Oregon voters approve 13 of 16 fire funding measures

Oregon residents approved 13 of 16 local fire district funding proposals in the November 3 midterm election. This success followed a record wildfire season and occurred despite state-level property tax limitations established in the 1990s. Voters across nine counties sent new operating and infrastructure money to local fire departments.

The state has 36 counties, and local fire funding measures appeared on ballots in one quarter of them. Property taxes cover the bulk of these department budgets. However, Measures 5 and 50, which passed in the 1990s, limit tax growth by basing property values on a rate-limited assessment rather than market worth. Urban renewal districts and enterprise zones also reduce available revenue for fire services.

In Benton County, the Albany and Adair rural fire protection districts secured bonds and operating levies worth nearly $3 million. Voters in Marion and Clackamas counties approved merging the Monitor and Mt. Angel fire districts. The new entity will be funded by a permanent property tax levy of $1.97 per $1,000 of assessed value. In Marion County, the Gates and Stayton fire districts also passed levies to provide $300,000 and $7.7 million in operations funding over the next four and five years, respectively.

Two fire proposals failed. In Troutdale, voters rejected a plan to send nearly $19 million over five years to the city’s police, fire, and 911 operations. In Pendleton, voters rejected a tax levy for the second time this year. The levy would have raised about $1.6 million annually to fund six firefighters, a mechanic, a fire prevention inspector, a data analyst, and a grant writer.

Department officials cited a 64% surge in call volume with no corresponding increase in responding resources. They noted rising operational demands, including higher costs for supplies, equipment, fleet maintenance, insurance, and health care.

Eight of nine school districts that sought more than $1 billion in new funding for infrastructure, security, and safety measures received approval. In Hillsboro, nearly 80% of voters renewed a local tax levy paid since 2006. This levy is expected to raise $62 million over the next five years to cover roughly 10% of the district’s operating budget. More than 60% approved the largest bond request in the election, a $430 million measure to fix aging infrastructure and improve safety and vocational education facilities.

Voters in North Clackamas approved a $245 million bond, the second highest in the election. In Multnomah County, the Reynolds School District won a $162.5 million bond to replace an elementary school built in the 1950s. The Gladstone, Glide, Grants Pass, Silver Falls, and Siuslaw districts also passed smaller eight-figure bonds. The only school measure to fail was a nearly $49 million bond in Harney County to build a new K-8 school and upgrade the high school. District officials there have not successfully passed a school bond for more than 20 years.

Eugene voters approved a 2% tax on gross profits from large retailers like Amazon and Walmart. The tax applies to companies earning more than $1 billion in profits annually nationwide and over $500,000 in profits within Eugene. It will fund renewable energy and energy efficiency projects. Supporters expect the measure could raise up to $15 million a year. Britney VanCitters, political and organizing director at the Oregon League of Conservation Voters, stated that the fund allows the city to take action at the local level.

Other local measures included mixed results for hotel and Airbnb taxes. Bandon voters approved a 2.5% increase in the transient lodging tax, raising it from 9.5% to 12% for stays under 30 days. A similar initiative in Columbia County failed. It would have raised up to $300,000 per year for county services. In Rufus, a town of roughly 250, voters agreed to a 1-cent-per-gallon gas tax increase to fund local roads. This followed a statewide rejection of a 6-cent-per-gallon increase in the May primary.

Voters also addressed drug regulations. Estacada approved a ban on marijuana processing, manufacturing, and wholesaling. Sutherlin rejected a proposal to repeal its ban on marijuana facilities. Warrenton approved keeping a 3% tax on marijuana sales, down from a previous 10% local tax. Joseph, Redmond, and Reedsport approved new or renewed bans on psilocybin therapies. The drug has been legal to use statewide in supervised sites since 2020, but local jurisdictions may opt out.