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What people want: And what lawmakers are doing about it
June 14, 2007
Funding for capital projects at Oregon Institute of Technology. Protection of shared revenues between the state and incorporated cities. An increased number of Oregon State Police troopers.
State lawmakers have a well-sized list of bills, objectives and projects to tie up before the end of the Legislative session June 29.
Klamath Basin legislators and leaders this week talked about their top concerns and priorities for the remainder of the session.
State Rep. Bill Garrard and state Sen. Doug Whitsett, both Klamath Falls Republicans, say funding for the completion of Oregon Institute of Technology’s Center for Health Professions is at the top of their lists. That funding also is a top legislative priority for the Klamath County commissioners.
OIT was supposed to receive a $9 million state G-bond for the project, but the money was left out of budget proposed by the co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Both legislators said OIT is again on the list to receive the capital funding, but won’t know for sure until a new budget is released.
Garrard and Whitsett also are concerned about a pair of water bills that could still make it to the floors of both chambers before the session’s end.
House bills 2564 and 2566 would require increased measurement of water diversions and new regulations and fees for new wells, respectively. Now only major diversions from a water source are measured and many wells, especially those for domestic use, are exempt from intense regulation.
The bills would increase costs for rural residents, the legislators said. Even those already with wells could be required to file for water permit sand pay fees if they are in a water-strained area.
“It’s a bill in search of a problem,” Whitsett said.
Whitsett said in the past that the Oregon Water Resources Department has wide authority to increase water measuring activities. Both bills are currently in committee, and Whitsett said the measurement bill probably won’t make it to the floor, but the bill to tighten well regulation could still make it through.
Both state Rep. George Gilman, R-Medford, and Lake County Commissioner Ken Kestner said they would like to see the governor sign a bill that would provide increased funding to rural and remote schools in Oregon.
The officials said the school in Paisley is in danger of closing without additional funding.
Gilman said Mary Nolan, a Joint Ways and Means Committee co-chair, told him the bill would likely not be heard on the floor.
Economic development
Commissioners from Klamath and Lake counties would like to see more funding for economic development.
Klamath County commissioners specifically requested reinstatement of regional investment funds to counties used to help attract industrial and commercial operations. Kestner said he’d be happy with any help for economic development in Lake County.
Each legislator also has other issues they’d like to see addressed before the end of the session.
Two Senate bills that would reorganize the budgeting process are being watched and supported by Whitsett. He also is watching to make sure his two bills that address attorney/client privilege and financial reporting for school districts leave the Capitol with the governor’s signature.
Gilman said he hoped for more funding for transportation from the Legislature, but he isn’t sure that will come through before session’s end.
Garrard was watching efforts to find funding for the Healthy Kids program supported by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. The governor attempted to fund the program by instituting new taxes, and Garrard said the Legislature so far resisted that action, but it could come up again before legislators leave for the summer.
” Ty Beaver
Funding for capital projects at Oregon Institute of Technology. Protection of shared revenues between the state and incorporated cities. An increased number of Oregon State Police troopers.
State lawmakers have a well-sized list of bills, objectives and projects to tie up before the end of the Legislative session June 29.
Klamath Basin legislators and leaders this week talked about their top concerns and priorities for the remainder of the session.
State Rep. Bill Garrard and state Sen. Doug Whitsett, both Klamath Falls Republicans, say funding for the completion of Oregon Institute of Technology’s Center for Health Professions is at the top of their lists. That funding also is a top legislative priority for the Klamath County commissioners.
OIT was supposed to receive a $9 million state G-bond for the project, but the money was left out of budget proposed by the co-chairs of the Joint Ways and Means Committee. Both legislators said OIT is again on the list to receive the capital funding, but won’t know for sure until a new budget is released.
Garrard and Whitsett also are concerned about a pair of water bills that could still make it to the floors of both chambers before the session’s end.
House bills 2564 and 2566 would require increased measurement of water diversions and new regulations and fees for new wells, respectively. Now only major diversions from a water source are measured and many wells, especially those for domestic use, are exempt from intense regulation.
The bills would increase costs for rural residents, the legislators said. Even those already with wells could be required to file for water permit sand pay fees if they are in a water-strained area.
“It’s a bill in search of a problem,” Whitsett said.
Whitsett said in the past that the Oregon Water Resources Department has wide authority to increase water measuring activities. Both bills are currently in committee, and Whitsett said the measurement bill probably won’t make it to the floor, but the bill to tighten well regulation could still make it through.
Both state Rep. George Gilman, R-Medford, and Lake County Commissioner Ken Kestner said they would like to see the governor sign a bill that would provide increased funding to rural and remote schools in Oregon.
The officials said the school in Paisley is in danger of closing without additional funding.
Gilman said Mary Nolan, a Joint Ways and Means Committee co-chair, told him the bill would likely not be heard on the floor.
Economic development
Commissioners from Klamath and Lake counties would like to see more funding for economic development.
Klamath County commissioners specifically requested reinstatement of regional investment funds to counties used to help attract industrial and commercial operations. Kestner said he’d be happy with any help for economic development in Lake County.
Each legislator also has other issues they’d like to see addressed before the end of the session.
Two Senate bills that would reorganize the budgeting process are being watched and supported by Whitsett. He also is watching to make sure his two bills that address attorney/client privilege and financial reporting for school districts leave the Capitol with the governor’s signature.
Gilman said he hoped for more funding for transportation from the Legislature, but he isn’t sure that will come through before session’s end.
Garrard was watching efforts to find funding for the Healthy Kids program supported by Gov. Ted Kulongoski. The governor attempted to fund the program by instituting new taxes, and Garrard said the Legislature so far resisted that action, but it could come up again before legislators leave for the summer.
” Ty Beaver
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