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Oregon Trails
An Occasional Newsletter
from
The Association of Oregon Counties
Month, Year - Vol 1, Issue 1 |
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May Days
Governor Steps In
May 6, 2013
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Salem Rocks
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As the Legislature passed the half way point it appeared that it had become high centered on a few key issues. To get the buggy back on track, Governor Kitzhaber invited legislative leaders from both parties to attend a discussion on improving working conditions in the building. Since none of us were invited, we only have the word of some of the attendees that it was a worthwhile discussion.
So far, as of May 1st at any rate, the Governor has signed 48 legislatively passed bills into law. He has not exercised his veto yet. For a look at the legislation that has made it all the way through the process, click here.
A reminder since we publish this newsletter on Monday now, that next Monday, May 13th, most of the AOC Steering Committees will meet in the morning and the Legislative Committee and Board will meet starting at noon. This is your opportunity to be involved as the AOC Legislative Committee debates and determines AOC's position on the legislation still pending. Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown has accepted an invitation to address the Legislative Committee regarding HB 3521, which would automatically register all eligible unregistered voters in Oregon. If you can't be at the Local Government Center in Salem in person, we have video and phone conferencing available. If you are able to attend, we serve lunch (just let us know you'll be here).
Watch your in boxes later this week for agendas and times. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to contact the AOC office at 503-585-8351.
Amazing blue sky weather over Salem leads
to optimism about the legislative process
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| NACo Drug Discount Program | |
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| AOC Weighs in for Local Control | |
Four County Commissioners and a County Judge urged the Senate Finance and Revenue Committee last week to keep moving HB 2870A toward passage. The bill would remove the prohibition of taxes by a county on cigarettes and tobacco products. It would limit any county tax to not more than the tax imposed by the State, and requires that at least 40 percent of the revenues be used for public health services.
Multnomah County Chair Jeff Cogen, Lane County Commissioner Sid Leiken, Tillamook County Commissioner Mark Labhart, AOC President and Yamhill County Commissioner Mary Stern, and Harney County Judge Steve Grasty stressed their support for the bill as a matter of governance, and as a means to provide another fiscal tool to address county health care and public service responsibilities. They highlighted the support from diverse counties around the State, many of which will likely not use this authority but appreciate the ability to set local policy. In this area of law, local control is not uncommon. More than 560 cities and counties in the U.S. now collect tobacco taxes.
No work session has been posted as yet on HB 2870A. AOC thanks the legislators who have voted to permit counties the opportunity to set local policy.
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| The County Roads Story | |
Five Oregon County Commissioners and Judges told the Oregon House Transportation and Economic Development Committee Monday that county roads are in for a real rough patch. At the request of Committee Vice Chair Rep. Cliff Bentz (R-Ontario), the five elected county officials outlined the hardships their road departments are facing because of reduced funding sources, increased costs and fewer road crews. Harney County Judge Steve Grasty, Lake County Commissioner Dan Shoun and Baker County Commissioner Fred Warner briefed the committee on the challenges Eastern Oregon county road departments face while Tillamook County Commissioner Mark Labhart and Lane County Commissioner Sid Leiken gave an update on Western Oregon county roads. 
County Road Program Manager Jon Oshel provided the committee with a statewide view of the 26,962 mile county road system which is 39 percent of all road miles in Oregon. Oshel pointed out that unless Congress acts to reauthorize federal forest payments, Oregon counties stand to lose some $40 million in road funding next fiscal year.
Commissioners Leiken, Warner and Labhart
prepare to testify before House Transportation
Committee
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| Early Learning Update | |
On Friday, Marion County Commissioner Janet Carlson and AOC Staff met with Jada Rupley, Director of the Early Learning Council. Jada explained that there will be a letter emailed on Wednesday to the chair of the boards of county commissioners and the directors of the local commissions on children and families. The letter will explain that counties will have the option to administer Healthy Start funds and that there may be some base dollar amount for the counties to compensate for the administration. The Relief Nurseries funding, currently administered by the local CCFs will receive their funding directly through the state. The third funding stream that currently is administered by the CCFs - the "flexible funds" are currently not included in any legislation and will be contingent upon legislative action. AOC continues to advocate for these funds to continue until the local hubs are in place.
The letter will be accompanied by a new intergovernmental agreement (IGA). The IGA is very similar to the existing agreement for Healthy Start and Relief Nurseries. The length of the IGA will depend on when the hubs start up, but are expected to last a maximum of one year or when the local hub is operational, whichever comes first.
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Sen. Courtney Joins Governance Forum
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This week's Governance Forum will feature Senate President Peter Courtney; the outgoing director of the Addictions and Mental Health division of the Oregon Health Authority (AMH), Linda Hammond; the incoming director of AMH, Pam Martin; and the director of Disabilities Rights Oregon, Bob Joondeph, to discuss the role of the county in Community Mental Health Care. The meeting will reflect on the past few years and the development of CCOs and look forward to the implementation of the Affordable Care Act, the rulings of the U.S. Department of Justice and other major changes to mental health care.
The Governance Forum was set up years ago to have policy level discussion between commissioners/judges and department leaders at the Oregon Health Authority and the Department of Human Services. We urge you to come in person, but if you cannot, we will have both phone and video connections. For more information please contact AOC staff Mark Nystrom.
Governance Forum, May 10th, 10 am-Noon, Local Government Center, Room 306
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Join Youth Development Council Vice-Chair Jay Dixon at AOC Human Services Steering Committee
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The AOC Human Services Steering Committee will be discussing the recent changes in the Youth Development Council (YDC) and the Early Learning Council (ELC). In the past, the local Commission on Children and Families made determinations about gaps in local services and subsequently re-granted money to selected projects and local nonprofits to carry out the work in your county for kids. With the advent of the Early Learning Council and the Youth Development Council, decision making will be shifted away from the counties to entities in your community or the state. Benton County Commissioner Jay Dixon will join us and outline the vision of the YDC and AOC staff and others will update the latest on the ELC.
AOC Human Services Steering Committee, May 10th, 12:30 PM-2:30 PM, Local Government Center, Room 306.
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| Flood Insurance | |
A few years ago, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) started requiring flood insurance. Some folks are about to see their rates go up as subsidies begin to go away. FEMA has released this article on the Biggert-Waters National Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act of 2012.
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| Road Mileage User Fee | |
The Oregon Department of Transportation recently released news on the Road Usage Charge Pilot Program. The pilot program has been deemed a success and it showed that rural residents will not be disadvantaged by a mileage-based user fee system. You can read the information yourself by clicking the link above.
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| Community Renewable Energy Feasibility Fund | |
The Oregon Department of Energy has four renewable energy funding opportunities available. Check out this fact sheet for more information on the types of programs that might qualify and how to apply for the grants.
You can also contact Rebecca O'Neil at DOE: 503-373-2295, cell 503-881-9627 or
email - rebecca.oneil@state.or.us.
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| Places To Go, Things To Do, Great Opportunities | |
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| Reminder | |
Don't forget the AOC Legislative Committee meeting next Monday, May 13th at the Local Government Center in Salem. Please watch your email for the agenda and supporting information. Let us know if you plan to attend in person so we can get a head count for lunch. See you Monday.
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Please feel free to submit your story ideas, announcements, recipes, photos and job changes to your Oregon Trails staff for inclusion in the next riveting edition.
See you next week - your Oregon Trails staff,
Laura Cleland & Eric Schmidt
Association of Oregon Counties
503-585-8351
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