In response to1300 testimonies posted a day earlier, all in opposition, the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation Funding started the hearing on Monday with an initial group in support of Governor Kotek’s proposed LC 2 tax increases. Immediately after this initial group concluded, Governor Kotek sent out a press release of all her support. Riddled with quotes from testimony, she had to have copies of these testimonies to send out the press release within a minute of their conclusion.

"Oregonians depend on safe roads to go about their lives. We have to keep our roads safe through winter weather, rain, and wildfire threats," Governor Kotek said. "Without additional funding, we would be abandoning Oregon families from Brookings to Joseph who are counting on us to step up and keep roads maintained all year round." She didn’t wait on her press release to hear the families struggling now that couldn’t manage another cost-of-living increase.

Through a mixture of testimonies, almost all supporters testified in support of their one area of interest and neglected the consequence’s of the total package. Those in opposition spoke more to the total package of increased taxes from gas tax to employment tax to giving DAS responsibility to raise gas taxes for fee equalization, and the mismanagement of funds at ODOT.

Counties and cities across Oregon also face transportation funding shortfalls. LC 2 maintains the state's commitment to local road safety, sending 30% of State Highway Fund revenue to counties and 20% to cities. Counties want to see their share of the pot increased to respond to emergencies, fill potholes, and plow snow from roads that Oregonians rely on during winter storms.

“Oregon counties are responsible for the largest share of Oregon’s public road system,” said Mallorie Roberts, Legislative Affairs Director of Association of Oregon Counties (AOC). “AOC estimates that without new revenue, over the next five years, more than 4,500 miles of county roads will go without critical maintenance work and will quickly deteriorate beyond repair; over 800 miles of county roads will go without needed reconstruction, and 169 county bridges will miss essential maintenance. AOC and the Oregon Association of County Engineers and Surveyors (OACES) support Legislative Concept 2 and urge the legislature to work with their partners to develop a comprehensive statewide transportation package in the 2027 legislative session.”

Morgan Niles, member of Oregon AFSCME Tillamook County Local 2734, said: “This proposal ensures that local governments can protect our communities by fixing landslides, filling potholes, repainting fog lines and replacing guardrails.”

Umatilla County Commissioner Dan Dorran said: “The state/county/city partnership may be complicated, but we have a shared, long-term commitment to the common goal of providing to all of our constituents an above average transportation network.”

Mixing the trucking tax in the package is a slight of hand that creates a methodology that will allow DAS to raise the gas tax to keep fee equalization in check without voter input. Unions were strong in addressing the “longstanding overpayment issue and modernizing our taxing methodology to be more in line with the rest of the country,” said Jana Jarvis, President and CEO of the Oregon Trucking Associations.

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

There is no indication that a middle ground is being sought after. Many asked about other wasteful fund expenditures that could easily be allocated to ODOT for road maintenance. Some even suggested funds that could be rerouted. The employment tax is proposed to be doubled to fund transit services. Tri-Met is funding $30,000 to undocumented to buy their first home, which is coming from ODOT.

The emergency that justifies a special session should not include funding of housing by Tri-Met, and be limited to the created emergency to fund the Oregon Department of Transportation's (ODOT) maintenance and operations budget. The new revenue is paired with accountability measures that provide greater oversight into ODOT's spending and operations. Some objected to giving ODOT more funding until they were audited and revamped for accountability. Why is ODOT funding housing for Tri-Met? The opinion is that ODOT failed with the funds allocated in 2017 and shouldn’t be rewarded for poor management.

Legislative Concept 2 includes increased funding for transit providers across the state. The services maintained by the increased funding are crucial for Oregon's seniors, veterans, and working families.

“Without new resources, tens of thousands of Oregonians, students, workers, seniors, and people with disabilities stand to lose reliable transportation,” said Allan Pollock, General Manager of Cherriots. These same people were also mentioned as those on fixed income that cannot afford a cost-of-living increase.

"This proposal is just the first step toward building a transportation system that works for everyone, for years to come," Governor Kotek continued. "We have to address the crisis at our front door before we can move forward."

It was evident that the unions were at the Governor’s “front door.” Democrats made an effort to get supporters to testify. These were mostly union and government employees that could appear under their job description. One man drove hours just to say he’d submit his testimony in writing.

Those in opposition didn’t have the luxury to take off work for the very reason they oppose the increases – they live on a tight budget and fear how they will manage if the gas tax goes up and trickles down raising the cost-of-living. Channel 8 news poll indicates 82% of Oregonians are against taxing to fund ODOT. Who do you think Kotek will invite in her "front door"?


--Donna Bleiler

Post Date: 2025-08-25 23:30:44

Last Update: 2025-08-26 00:23:17