Oregon voters this week soundly rejected a statewide measure that would have increased gas taxes and vehicle registration fees to fund transportation. On a local level, the opposite happened: Voters passed every measure funding roads closer to home.
Support for local taxes didn’t stop there. Despite rising inflation and a souring economy, voters passed or renewed more than 40 taxes for libraries, local schools and in some cases fire and emergency services. The support was far from uniform locally, though, with a number of tax measures falling short, leaving school districts, as well as numerous agencies responsible for public safety, parks, pools and public works with significant funding gaps and a need to reevaluate budgets going forward.
Across the state, Oregon voters weighed 66 local tax measures in the May 19 primary election. Forty-two of them appear to be passing.
According to DHM public opinion researcher John Horvick, the results represent a slight dip in Oregonians’ overall support for funding measures compared to elections over the past five years. Still, Horvick said, Oregonians generally will fund the services they value. This election was no different…