One of the bills that comes up every long session, along with the budget bills, is one commonly known as the "Christmas tree" bill because it allocates funds for important projects in each senators' district. This year, SB 5506 went from a one and half page bill to 124 pages, 8 sections to 320 sections, from $606,781,901 to approximately $32 billion that is controlled by the legislature. After subtracting agency budgets, the Christmas tree fund is about $1 billion.

Senators that walked out and didn’t support the compromise are seeing their districts fall short of needed funding. Senator Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) had needed funding for the Hood River Bridge and City of Estacada projects cut. He says, “I was shocked to see the $6 million allocated for the Bridge of the Gods in Cascade Locks disappeared and was replaced for a $5 million footpath in Bend.”

The week of the negotiations, the Malheur Enterprise ran an article, State relief turns up short, leaving rail project still needing millions to finish. The article blames state legislators for not providing as much help as expected to rescue the Treasure Valley Reload Center project. It states, “The project has been over budget for months and already has had two previous bailouts from the state and one from Malheur County itself… What’s clear is that no onions will ship out of Nyssa this season as pieces of the warehouse building sit on the ground and two rail spurs needed to move train cars are yet to be completed.”

“The new money quandary emerged as Shawna Peterson, executive director of the development company, reported that state legislators would award another $5 million for the Nyssa project. Malheur County had sought $8.5 million in a request backed by state Sen. Lynn Findley and state Rep. Mark Owens.” This still leaves the project $5.6 million short to finish the project.

One onion grower is saying the whole project was mismanaged, from using a rail spur without checking with Union Pacific Railroad then cancelling, building on wetland without a study to see how deep it is because the property was owned by a board member and purchased over market value, cancelled scales and road work, contractors not being paid, and mismanagement of funds with no paper trail or purchase orders for $32 million and now they need $10.6 million more.

How much did this one project have to do with the compromise to end the walkout? We know from the Malheur Enterprise that Representative Greg Smith is under investigation for his company’s involvement and lack of records. Representative Mark Owens and Senator Lynn Findley requested funding to cover up all the mistakes. All three of these legislators were present to provide quorum.

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

A D V E R T I S E M E N T

Senator Lynn P. Findley participated in negotiations with Senate Minority Leader Tim Knopp that satisfied them along with Senator Dick Anderson to make quorum. Senator Findley’s district has at least $35.1 million lights on their Christmas tree, rural Oregon surely needs it.

• Deschutes and Harney Courthouse renovation - $18 million
• Harney infrastructure - $1.5 million
• Harney industrial improvement - $2.25 million
• Baker infrastructure - $2.25 million
• Malheur, Treasure Valley Reload Center - $5 million
• Deschutes River Conservancy - $2 million
• Jefferson, COCC Early Childhood Education & Health Center - $4.1 million

A complete list of SB 5506 allocations can be searched for whether your favorite project made the list.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2023-06-23 12:51:02

Last Update: 2023-06-25 22:54:04