TAPE/#

Speaker

Comments

TAPE 2, A

004

Chair Berger

Calls the meeting to order at 8:32 a.m. and opens the informational meeting on the Association of Oregon Counties.

ASSOCIATION OF OREGON COUNTIES (AOC) - INFORMATIONAL MEETING

025

Mike McArthur

Executive Director, Association of Oregon Counties (AOC). Submits informational materials which include; a booklet on Oregon Counties, Principals for Shared Systems Services, Shared Revenue Agreements & State Stewardship, and Shared State-County Services (EXHIBIT A). Explains that counties are governed by charter, general law and county court. States that AOC represents all three types of counties, as well as, other elected officials: sheriffs, treasurers, assessors, justices of the peace, clerks, engineers, surveyors, and administrators. 

050

Tim Josi

Commissioner of Tillamook County, President of AOC.  Begins a PowerPoint presentation on Oregon’s State-County Partnership (EXHIBIT B). Comments on Metro.

078

Josi

Begins a six-county comparison as an example of the diversity in services among counties. Describes how AOC interacts with the counties and the critical services that are provided by and shared with the state and counties.

145

Josi

Comments on the effects Ballot Measures 5 and 47 have on taxing jurisdictions.

221

McArthur

Explains that the funding formula for roads is 60 percent to the Oregon Department of Transportation, 24 percent to counties and 16 percent to cities. The agreement for futures revenues is a 50-30-20 split.

230

Josi

Reviews the services shared by the counties and the state.

241

Chair Berger

Emphasizes the importance of the relationship between county and state services.

250

Nickki Whitty

Coos County Commissioner. Refers to Principals for Shared Systems Services (EXHIBIT B). Comments on parole and probation programs being returned to the state because of budget shortfalls.

253

Chair Berger

Asks how many have been returned.

272

Whity

Answers Douglas and Linn counties. Adds that Curry County may have given notice.

295

Rep. Buckley

Asks what are the greatest needs for counties this biennium.

296

Chair Berger

States it is an appropriate question and as session progresses everyone will feel the squeeze.

307

Josi

States that in Tillamook County the roads are “in dire straits.”

314

Rep. Esquivel

States that the loss of Oregon & California (O&C) revenues will hurt Jackson County immensely as the county relies heavily on those revenues.

337

Chair Berger

Closes the informational meeting on Association of Oregon Counties and opens the informational meeting on League of Oregon Cities.

LEAGUE OF OREGON CITIES – INFORMATIONAL MEETING

338

Ken Strobeck

Executive Director, League of Oregon Cities. Submits informational materials which includes a booklet on Oregon Cities Hometown Voices: Wise Choices, a pamphlet titled Who we are and what we do, a list of Oregon Incorporated Cities 2005, 2005 Legislative Priorities, and the publication Local Focus (EXHIBIT C). States that cities are partners with the state. Provides an overview of Oregon’s 240 cities and the home rule provision.

388

Strobeck

Comments on the effects Ballot Measures 5, 47 and 50 have had on cities. Notes that the growth limit on property taxes is capped at 3 percent annually. Explains that cities are seeing 3 percent more in revenue against costs of 15 percent to 16 percent more per year. Comments on the perception that all cities have the same tax rate, noting that some cities have a zero tax base.

TAPE 3, A

027

Strobeck

Discusses Ballot Measure 30 which prohibits unfunded mandates on local governments. Explains the different forms of city governments; council/manager, commission, or mayor. Adds that cities and counties are not a special interest.

062

Helen Berg

Mayor, City of Corvallis and 2005 President League of Oregon Cities. Details the basic services provided by all cities. States that cities have commonalities but cherish their ability to identify with needs in the community.

151

David Barenberg

Legislative Director, League of Oregon Cities. States that all cities have unique characteristics and personalities. Requests that the legislature not remove the tools that cities have to fund the services of their populations.

201

Barenberg

Comments on challenges facing land use since the passage of Ballot Measure 37. Comments on law enforcement and the focus on methamphetamine.

221

Rep. Sumner

Comments that cities provide the fundamental needs of the citizens and encourages the committee to look to cities for efficiency in government.

244

Rep. Galizio

Asks what are the distinctions between what cities can do versus what a corporation can do.

272

Mayor Berg

Responds that they are not profit making organizations. All revenues received need to be expended, in a transparent way, on providing the services that meet the needs of the citizens. States that support and cooperation from the private sector are important and the private sector generates revenues.

278

Strobeck

Adds that they do not choose the business they are in, noting that it is not matter of supply and demand.

294

Rep. Esquivel

Adds to Rep. Galizio’s comment that cities can be patterned more like a business in financial aspects such as contingency funds.

358

Chair Berger

Closes the informational meeting on League of Oregon Cities and opens the information meeting on Special Districts Association of Oregon.

SPECIAL DISTRICTS ASSOCIATION OF OREGON (SDAO) – INFORMATIONAL MEETING

359

Hasina Squires

Western Advocates Inc. Submits and reviews a printed presentation on Local Government Panel Discussion (EXHIBIT D). Explains the similarities and differences of Special Districts.

372

Squires

States there are now 900 Special Districts throughout Oregon. States they serve cities and unincorporated districts. Special Districts do not receive state funds and are not dependent on the state budget. Explains that property tax pre-emption is the main focus of Special Districts noting that Special Districts do not have the opportunity to shift cuts to operating budgets.

445

Squires

States that ORS 198 is the overarching statute for Special Districts.

TAPE 2, B

007

Squires

Refers to slides five through nine (EXHIBIT D).

027

Squires

Refers to slides 14 through 16 showing the number of special districts. Discusses fire services, budgets and revenue sources.

056

Squires

Explains that property tax exceptions such as enterprise zones, Ballot Measure 5, Ballot Measure 47, Ballot Measure 50 and unfunded mandates pre-empt Special Districts taxing authority.

076

Greg Baker

Executive Director, SDAO. Submits 2005 SDAO Priority Legislation, (EXHIBIT E). Adds to Ms. Squires comments in regard to the effects of property tax limitations on funding parks, libraries and fire departments. Expresses concern regarding proposed legislation with public records exemptions, formation requests, county service districts, regulation of insurance pools and the Lane County Boundary Commission.

156

Chair Berger

Comments that Special Districts are diverse and growing in size. States that the presentations provided today are a general overview of local government concerns.

179

Chair Berger

Closes the informational meeting on SDAO and adjourns the meeting at 9:43 a.m.