Oregon County Finances

Some andom thoughts on how we finance county government in Oregon

It has been awhile since I last posted here. There have been some changes in my life. I’m now have a Boring address (location, not frame of mind) and am living in my great niece’s granny unit/laundry room. Hey, it’s not bad. I have more room than I have had for several years. There is only one problem. The noise of the washer and dryer drowns out my music.

I have been thinking about the problems facing many of the counties here in Oregon that are facing the loss of federal funding. They have been paid millions and millions of dollars over the years and have become dependent on the federal handouts. The payments may be justified because of the large tracts of federal land that are exempt from the local tax bases. Are there other ways for the federal government to pay? For example, could the counties charge the government for services provided, such as law enforcement.

Local voters continue to vote down tax increases. Is it time to re-look at how we fund local government? If the people are unwilling to tax themselves, is it time to revoke the county charters? Oregon has 36 counties. Are 36 necessary today? Could be govern ourselves between if we had 12 counties?

Something needs to be done. Libraries are being closed. County law enforcement is being cut back to bare bones. Jails are being emptied.

Just some random thoughts on the state of things here in this great state.