The Hermiston City Council spent their work session Monday night prioritizing legislative proposals for the next session of the Oregon Legislature.
The council took about 30 minutes discussing which initiatives it would like the League of Oregon Cities (LOC) to pursue on behalf of municipalities around the state. The council, later during its regular business meeting, voted to approve the following four priorities:
• Increased funding for water supply development
• Property tax reform
• Transportation funding
• Restoring recreational immunity
The council is backing a LOC proposal to support additional water supply funding through the state’s Water Supply Development Account. According to a study by the LOC, Oregon’s water and wastewater infrastructure needs for cities is estimated at $9 billion over the next 20 years. The study also found that 66 percent of cities surveyed are in need of additional water supply storage.
The city is supporting an effort by the LOC to reform the state’s property tax system. Under Measures 5 and 50, passed years ago, there is a limit to the amount of new property taxes that can be assessed. That, coupled with the fact that there is a gap between real market value of a piece of property and the assessed value, means cities have been hard-pressed to come up with new revenue to pay for services. In some cases, homes adjacent to one another could have markedly different property values. The LOC proposal would also allow local municipalities to adopt tax levies beyond what is now constitutionally allowed.
“This would give us back some local control,” Hermiston City Manager Bryon Smith said.
Regarding transportation, the council voted to support an LOC proposal to increase resources for the preservation and maintenance of city streets, and more funding for freight and passenger rail operations and projects.
“That’s got to be right up there in terms of priorities – a transportation package,” said Hermiston Mayor Dave Drotzmann.
“We can’t get a major street construction project done without borrowing money if the state isn’t going to help us,” said Smith.
The restoration of recreational immunity refers to a lawsuit that resulted in a ruling that city employees can be held liable for injuries to citizens in public parks. The case involved a jogger who suffered injuries after falling in a public park. And while cities themselves are immune from liability, their employees are not. The LOC wants cities to be protected from unreasonable litigation when offering recreational opportunities to the public.
In other business Monday night, the council adopted a policy document for its senior and disabled taxi service, but choose not to raise the price of ticket by 25 cents. The cost remains $2.25. The policy is available on the city’s website.
