Oregon's Governor Tina Kotek released her 2025-2027 recommended budget entitled “Building on Progress”.

Governor Kotek says she continues to consult with the Governor’s Racial Justice Council, and these conversations have helped inform her approach to decision making. She states: “My approach to being your Governor will always be grounded in truth, pragmatism, and a relentless pursuit of equitable outcomes for all Oregonians. The December revenue forecast projects stability for Oregon, and I am pleased to share that my budget does not lay off people or cut services, and instead strategically deepens our commitment to building progress on Oregonians’ top priorities while remaining disciplined when it comes to new programs. I fundamentally believe the Legislature needs to pass budgets for the next two years that build on the progress we have achieved together.”

Governor Kotek made housing and homelessness a top priority in 2023-24, and continues down that path.

The Homelessness budget includes infrastructure to stabilize partnerships. Her 2025-2027 budget shows resolve toward continuing a progressive plan committing more than $700 million, including:

• $217.9 million to maintain Oregon’s statewide system of shelters. The Oregonians who are still spending the night on our streets are relying on statewide support and we cannot afford to allow our progress to stall.
• $188.2 million to maintain current efforts to transition Oregonians out of homelessness and into housing. The Oregon Rehousing Initiative gets Oregon families into safe, stable housing, and keeps them there.
• $173.2 million to maintain services to prevent Oregonians from becoming homeless in the first place. The most cost effective strategy to combat our homelessness crisis is to prevent people from becoming homeless in the first place.

The failed Housing Program she says takes persistence, and her 2025-2027 recommended budget continues to focus on increasing Oregon’s housing supply in every part of the state by committing more than $1.4 billion including:

• $880 million new bond authority to build more affordable housing and homeownership pathways. The recommended budget reflects a dogged commitment to meet the state’s housing production goals and includes $780 million to build affordable rental homes and $100.9 million for new homeownership units.
• $100 million to establish a new housing infrastructure program. These new funds will establish a new housing infrastructure program to fund water, sewer, stormwater, and transportation infrastructure linked to new housing development to unlock thousands of new affordable and market rate rental and homeownership units.
• $57.6 million to continue efforts for supporting first-time home buyers and Oregonians looking to buy an affordable home. Homeownership is out of reach for many working families, keeping Oregonians from building wealth over the long term. This investment supports homeownership development and homebuyer assistance.

Not all agree with Governor Kotek’s proposal. Senate Republican Leader Daniel Bonham (R-The Dalles) criticized Governor Kotek’s proposed budget for lacking a bold vision to address Oregon’s worsening housing crisis, highlighting her administration’s failure to meet its own housing production goals.

“When Governor Kotek took office, she set an ambitious goal of building 36,000 housing units per year to address Oregon’s severe housing shortage. Yet, the latest report shows that only 18,000 units were built in 2023—less than half of her target and even fewer than the 20,000 units built in 2022,” said Bonham. “This failure reflects the shortcomings of the policies she continues to champion.”

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

“Under Governor Kotek’s leadership, housing policies have been largely driven by bureaucracy and ideology, prioritizing government-subsidized projects over real solutions to increase supply, reduce costs, and empower working families. Her new budget doubles down on the same failed strategies that have left Oregonians behind. It's time for a new vision—one that focuses on affordability, homeownership, and economic opportunity for all,” added Bonham.

Senate Republicans are committed to delivering a housing policy that works for every Oregonian. This means focusing on increasing housing supply across the spectrum, reducing regulatory burdens that drive up costs, and addressing the skyrocketing energy prices that make it harder to build and maintain homes.

“Oregonians don’t need more empty promises or half-measures. They need real solutions to bring housing within reach. Senate Republicans will continue to fight for policies that deliver the American Dream for Oregonians,” concluded Bonham.


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2024-12-03 17:01:20

Last Update: 2024-12-03 19:13:12