SALEM, Ore.-A special legislative session to address road maintenance and operations in Oregon has been called for August 29, postponing mass layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation.
“With the agreement of legislative leadership and with a plan for a special session now in place, I have directed ODOT to postpone the start date of layoffs for an additional 45 days, allowing impacted staff more time to make contingency plans for their livelihoods and their families,” said Governor Kotek in announcing the special session on July 22.
The regular session of the Oregon Legislature ended June 26, without a spending bill that would fund ODOT road maintenance and operations being passed.
Without a budget in place, 10 percent of ODOT’s workforce faced layoffs, with the first wave of 483 set to take effect July 31, until the special session was called.
According to the Governor’s Office, when lawmakers return to Salem, they will be tasked with passing a budget that funds the State Highway Trust Fund (gas and diesel taxes, and driver and vehicle fees) for the 2025-2027 biennium, continues revenue sharing with local governments and increases funding for the Statewide Transportation Improvement Fund.
“The special session will be focused on critical near-term solutions to stabilize basic functions at ODOT and local governments,” said Gov. Kotek. “This is just the first step of many that must be taken to meet our state’s long-term transportation needs.”
