21 January 2015
Oregon Legislature’s transportation debate heats up
Legislative Republicans are threatening to block a proposed transportation package if Democrats move forward with legislation aimed at combating greenhouse gases.
Senate President Peter Courtney said Tuesday the development makes him pessimistic about the prospects for a gas tax increase to pay for transportation projects. The Salem Democrat spoke at a legislative forum organized by The Associated Press.
Republicans object to Governor John Kitzhaber’s push to continue Oregon’s low-carbon fuel standard, which is scheduled to expire before it’s fully implemented.
The legislation would require fuel providers to reduce the carbon content of their products or buy credits from producers of clean burning fuels.
GOP lawmakers say they’re concerned gas prices would rise, and the increase should not come in conjunction with a gas tax. Proponents say the program is designed to avoid major price spikes.
Tax levy being used as intended
An audit report presented Tuesday to the Lane County Board of Commissioners shows money from a special property tax levy in Lane County is being spent as intended.
When voters approved a 55-cent-per-thousand special levy in May 2013, one condition was that the money raised be used only on operations at the Lane County Jail and certain youth offender services.
The five-year levy will provide a total of about $75-million for corrections in Lane County. Sheriff Tom Turner called it the “first step: in repairing a broken public safety system.
The audit, performed by the accounting firm Moss-Adams, provided an independent look at how the money was used. It was presented to the Lane County Board of Commissioners yesterday.
Dunes City goal setting
Dunes City Councilors will sit down and talk about what they hope to accomplish in the coming year. But, they don’t want to hold that discussion in a vacuum.
They’ll hold a special work session in two weeks to prioritize what they want to accomplish in the coming year. Before that, though, they want to hear from their neighbors about what is important to them.
Written suggestions will be accepted at Dunes City Hall up to the February tenth meeting.
Last year’s council goals included financial stability, good governance, water quality and emergency preparedness.
Vehicle registration fee tweaks
Lane County Commissioners opted to hold off on a formal decision to refer a $35-per-year vehicle registration fee to voters.
A hearing yesterday in Eugene brought out supporter and detractors of the plan.
Ultimately, the changes proposed to the fee structure came from within. Commissioners want to put stronger controls in place limiting the use of the money raised from the fee to maintenance and rebab of existing streets, roads and bridges. They want to make sure the money is not used for new construction; nor to pay for Sheriff’s Department rural patrols.
Local gas price average at ten year low
One dollar and 85-cents per gallon… that’s the average cash price for regular gasoline this morning in Florence.
That’s the lowest average in more than a decade and 13- cents less than it was last week.
It is also 19-cents a gallon less than the national average price as measured by Triple-A; 28 cents below the Oregon statewide average of $2.13.
According to Triple-A the continued falling prices at the pump are the result of global oil prices tumbling to multi-year lows. Analysts say prices are likely to increase in the spring due to seasonal demand, but Triple-A expects prices to remain below three dollars a gallon.
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