On the eve of a Special Session of the Oregon Legislature, the City of Grants Pass is voicing its opposition to the state transportation bill known as "LC2."
A letter to the Transportation Committee has been signed by Grants Pass Mayor Clint Scherf, City Council President Victoria Marshall and City Manager Aaron Cubic.
Grants Pass currently receives approximately $3 million each biennium through State Highway Fund (SHF) allocations, which are distributed by a formula that directs 50% of revenues to the state, 30% to counties and 20% to cities. The framework ensures local governments have a reliable and dedicated source of funding for the majority of Oregon's road network.
In the letter, the City Council states it has significant concerns about the burden of repeated or escalating taxes and fees on working families and small employers. It recognizes the necessity of sustained investment, but also believes successful transportation packages succeed when they pair revenue with accountability as well as sensitivity to household and business costs.
To that end, Grants Pass urges the Committee to preserve the 50/30/20 revenue sharing model within SHF, identify revenue sources that do not further increase the tax burden on Oregon households already struggling with rising costs, and strengthen ODOT accountability and oversight through clear project lists, timely reporting and outcome measures so communities can see and trust the return on each dollar invested.
The City of Grants Pass is dedicated to being a constructive partner in the effort to strengthen Oregon's transportation network. It asks the Legislature to look internally for existing revenue to ensure city's share of the State Highway Fund be protected to communities can sustain both infrastructure and economic vitality.
