Two different paths to bond and levy consideration
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
ANALYSIS
Two bonds will be on a single ballot this November: Will the choices divide voters, mean defeat for both, approval for only one or passage of two new taxes? A Trammart News analysis compares and contrasts Independence’s levy to the Central School District bond.
Ask any resident how they will vote in November – any resident who knows about the proposed Central District’s school bond and Independence’s city levy – and you’re unlikely to get a definite answer, unless you can provide the precise cost. But even information on out-of-pocket additions to the tax rolls may not be enough. Details are desired.
A look at what members of the public have been asking, and answers provided by Trammart News & Publishing, with as much confirmation as can be provided.
Cost: The Independence City Council approved a proposed levy for the November ballot to fund parks, library and museum for taxation at $1.82 per $1,000 assessed value. Total cost to a homeowner with $200,000 assessed value for a property equals a tax of about a dollar a day, or $364 per year. The additional funds collected would permit funding for all three operations at current service levels.
The Central School District approved a proposed bond for facilities repairs and upgrades that would add five cents to the current tax bill of about $3.70 for the 2024 tax assessment cycle, bringing it to $3.75. The total newly added cost to a homeowner in Independence and Monmouth with a $200,000 assessed value for a property equals about 3 cents per day, or $10 per year.
Time: The Independence levy would be for five years; The CSD bond is for 30 years.
Vote: The school bond proposal was unanimously approved (6-0) this week; The Independence levy received approved on a 4-2 vote by the Independence City Council.
Presentation to public: Some in Independence told Trammart News the first they had heard about the need for a city levy was from reporting by this news service, which had taken an advisory of the need for a levy directly from the city budget report when it became a public document. During the budget process a special announcement of the need for the levy and a public safety fee was posted to the city's website and Facebook page.
In the case of CSD, the potential need for a school bond was announced at a school board meeting. A bond-development committee was formed and a report by the consultant was presented a few months later to the CSD board, resulting in news coverage by Trammart News. Budget committee sessions were open to the public.
Communication with public about process: Independence utilized budget meetings – the city had no campaign (flyers, social media postings, special meetings) for the public about the need for the levy. Neither the city’s Facebook page nor its website conveyed levy-related information beyond the announcement that the levy was needed and information in this week’s council agenda – more comprehensive levy information was provided this week in River City Briefs, the city’s e-newsletter, and during the city manager’s “60-Second Council” report on Facebook and the website.
This past spring, CSD formed a committee of community members that produced hand-outs, pamphlets, and a website with videos; Staff, board members and volunteers provided tours of the school buildings to show sites of needed corrective action by bond funding. Tabling activities promoting the facilities needs were also held at public events by members of the school facilities committee.
Plans for continued communication: A political action committee for disseminating information, including canvassing neighborhoods, was tentatively announced by CSD parents to spread the word about the need for the CSD bond. Trammart News hasn’t been informed of a similar program for the city levy.
Contingency planning: If the school bond fails, a loan would likely be required for handling disrepairs in school buildings, according to school officials.
If the city levy fails, a series of work sessions will be held with the city council to determine how and where cuts would be made, and the best way to address the situation without the appropriate funding levels, which could include closures, according to City Manager Kenna West. The museum, parks and library are funded through the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
Oversight of use: Proceeds from the tax increase to fund parks, library and museum will be held in the General Fund, by category, according to Gerald Fisher, public works director.
Proceeds from the tax increase for the school bond are a separate fund, and oversight will be by a committee formed with community members who will assist staff by regularly meeting for review of progress in meeting building goals, according to CSD Superintendent Jennifer Kubista.
Generation of Revenue: The school bond would be $90 million for 30 years plus a six-million-dollar grant, to be paid by the State of Oregon if the bond passes. The 2026 bond payment to homeowners/property owners would add to the the 2024 bond payments. There will be one year of lower bond payments for 2025, based on action taken by the school board earlier this year.
The city levy would generate $1.14 million dollars in the first year and increase to $1.4 million by the fifth year.
Critique from experienced voices: At the meeting of the Independence City Council Tuesday night, Independence’s former city manager David Clyne urged city councilors to “think of another way of doing this,” asserting that “there is an alternative way to go forward.” West noted that in budgets prior to her tenure as city manager the city had transferred funds collected for water, sewer and transportation needs to budget lines to maintain library, parks and museum services. West has previously explained that best practices in city budgeting recommend not relying on such transfers.
At the CSD School Board meeting Wednesday night, Shannon Ball – who has served on CSD’s long term planning committee, and the bond-development committee as well as the facilities’ committee – urged the staff and board members to “provide clear direction to our voters” on precisely how the money will be used. She said specific language showing specific priorities is key.
Head-scratching moment with head administrators: Safety concerns were cited by Superintendent Kubista who seemed to include air conditioning as one aspect. Independence Elementary School and Ash Creek Elementary School lack air conditioning. However, in 2022, the Oregon Legislature commissioned a study to determine a “heat Vulnerability Index” so cooling needs of counties could be ranked – Polk County appears to be in far less need than other counties.
In her report to the city council, City Manager West said she felt compelled to address a “rant” by a resident at the previous city council meeting, who insulted lawyers like herself – testimony that was labeled fiery to Trammart News by an attendee that night. West said, “it's this kind of fear-mongering and ignorant generalization of a group of people that resulted in the formation of the Ku Klux Clan and the Nazis and the only way to fight ignorant generalization is by education,” and spoke of lawyers’ many contributions to society.
However, an inquiry to the Anti-Defamation League about the language she chose to use proved possibly problematic. The ADL calls on political leaders to avoid using inappropriate Nazi analogies and comparisons, out of respect for the atrocities of World War II. ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
ANALYSIS
Two bonds will be on a single ballot this November: Will the choices divide voters, mean defeat for both, approval for only one or passage of two new taxes? A Trammart News analysis compares and contrasts Independence’s levy to the Central School District bond.
Ask any resident how they will vote in November – any resident who knows about the proposed Central District’s school bond and Independence’s city levy – and you’re unlikely to get a definite answer, unless you can provide the precise cost. But even information on out-of-pocket additions to the tax rolls may not be enough. Details are desired.
A look at what members of the public have been asking, and answers provided by Trammart News & Publishing, with as much confirmation as can be provided.
Cost: The Independence City Council approved a proposed levy for the November ballot to fund parks, library and museum for taxation at $1.82 per $1,000 assessed value. Total cost to a homeowner with $200,000 assessed value for a property equals a tax of about a dollar a day, or $364 per year. The additional funds collected would permit funding for all three operations at current service levels.
The Central School District approved a proposed bond for facilities repairs and upgrades that would add five cents to the current tax bill of about $3.70 for the 2024 tax assessment cycle, bringing it to $3.75. The total newly added cost to a homeowner in Independence and Monmouth with a $200,000 assessed value for a property equals about 3 cents per day, or $10 per year.
Time: The Independence levy would be for five years; The CSD bond is for 30 years.
Vote: The school bond proposal was unanimously approved (6-0) this week; The Independence levy received approved on a 4-2 vote by the Independence City Council.
Presentation to public: Some in Independence told Trammart News the first they had heard about the need for a city levy was from reporting by this news service, which had taken an advisory of the need for a levy directly from the city budget report when it became a public document. During the budget process a special announcement of the need for the levy and a public safety fee was posted to the city's website and Facebook page.
In the case of CSD, the potential need for a school bond was announced at a school board meeting. A bond-development committee was formed and a report by the consultant was presented a few months later to the CSD board, resulting in news coverage by Trammart News. Budget committee sessions were open to the public.
Communication with public about process: Independence utilized budget meetings – the city had no campaign (flyers, social media postings, special meetings) for the public about the need for the levy. Neither the city’s Facebook page nor its website conveyed levy-related information beyond the announcement that the levy was needed and information in this week’s council agenda – more comprehensive levy information was provided this week in River City Briefs, the city’s e-newsletter, and during the city manager’s “60-Second Council” report on Facebook and the website.
This past spring, CSD formed a committee of community members that produced hand-outs, pamphlets, and a website with videos; Staff, board members and volunteers provided tours of the school buildings to show sites of needed corrective action by bond funding. Tabling activities promoting the facilities needs were also held at public events by members of the school facilities committee.
Plans for continued communication: A political action committee for disseminating information, including canvassing neighborhoods, was tentatively announced by CSD parents to spread the word about the need for the CSD bond. Trammart News hasn’t been informed of a similar program for the city levy.
Contingency planning: If the school bond fails, a loan would likely be required for handling disrepairs in school buildings, according to school officials.
If the city levy fails, a series of work sessions will be held with the city council to determine how and where cuts would be made, and the best way to address the situation without the appropriate funding levels, which could include closures, according to City Manager Kenna West. The museum, parks and library are funded through the current fiscal year ending June 30, 2025.
Oversight of use: Proceeds from the tax increase to fund parks, library and museum will be held in the General Fund, by category, according to Gerald Fisher, public works director.
Proceeds from the tax increase for the school bond are a separate fund, and oversight will be by a committee formed with community members who will assist staff by regularly meeting for review of progress in meeting building goals, according to CSD Superintendent Jennifer Kubista.
Generation of Revenue: The school bond would be $90 million for 30 years plus a six-million-dollar grant, to be paid by the State of Oregon if the bond passes. The 2026 bond payment to homeowners/property owners would add to the the 2024 bond payments. There will be one year of lower bond payments for 2025, based on action taken by the school board earlier this year.
The city levy would generate $1.14 million dollars in the first year and increase to $1.4 million by the fifth year.
Critique from experienced voices: At the meeting of the Independence City Council Tuesday night, Independence’s former city manager David Clyne urged city councilors to “think of another way of doing this,” asserting that “there is an alternative way to go forward.” West noted that in budgets prior to her tenure as city manager the city had transferred funds collected for water, sewer and transportation needs to budget lines to maintain library, parks and museum services. West has previously explained that best practices in city budgeting recommend not relying on such transfers.
At the CSD School Board meeting Wednesday night, Shannon Ball – who has served on CSD’s long term planning committee, and the bond-development committee as well as the facilities’ committee – urged the staff and board members to “provide clear direction to our voters” on precisely how the money will be used. She said specific language showing specific priorities is key.
Head-scratching moment with head administrators: Safety concerns were cited by Superintendent Kubista who seemed to include air conditioning as one aspect. Independence Elementary School and Ash Creek Elementary School lack air conditioning. However, in 2022, the Oregon Legislature commissioned a study to determine a “heat Vulnerability Index” so cooling needs of counties could be ranked – Polk County appears to be in far less need than other counties.
In her report to the city council, City Manager West said she felt compelled to address a “rant” by a resident at the previous city council meeting, who insulted lawyers like herself – testimony that was labeled fiery to Trammart News by an attendee that night. West said, “it's this kind of fear-mongering and ignorant generalization of a group of people that resulted in the formation of the Ku Klux Clan and the Nazis and the only way to fight ignorant generalization is by education,” and spoke of lawyers’ many contributions to society.
However, an inquiry to the Anti-Defamation League about the language she chose to use proved possibly problematic. The ADL calls on political leaders to avoid using inappropriate Nazi analogies and comparisons, out of respect for the atrocities of World War II. ▪
City council approves placing library, museum, parks levy on ballot with heated discussion
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
In a 4-2 vote, the Independence City Council voted to approve a levy for the November ballot that would provide funding for the museum, library and parks – if approved by voters. With City Councilors Dawn Roden and Sarah Jobe dissenting, the remaining four councilors approved sending a proposed levy that would add $1.82 per thousand dollars of assessed property value to homeowner tax bills.
Communication appeared to be strikingly divisive over the issue – now a more common occurrence at city council meetings. The Independence City Council increasingly has seemed to split into two factions. One has been characterized by some as the “old guard,” described as a tightly knit group of civic boosters that’s seen as a long-term cohesive group. The other segment consists of what a few have called “the twins,” a pair of committed belt-tighteners on the city council.
The proposed levy was one of two options – an alternative would have been to remove the museum – that was discussed at some length before the vote was taken. Early in the process, before the vote occurred Tuesday night, the communication among city councilors appeared to show a division.
The discussion, at times, showed strikingly different perceptions by councilors beginning with the budget process. “We had time while doing the budget this year to go over every issue we could have gone over to try to see where we could find funding to save these things,” asserted Roden.
“I do not want the museum to close. I do not want the library and parks to suffer. But I don’t want to put on people’s backs a tax burden that they cannot afford,” she said. “We should have exhausted all of our efforts during the budgeting process to see if we could have gotten money from other sources in our budget and we failed to do that.”
Instead, the budget was “pushed through and we didn’t have the opportunity to look at these things,” she said. Some residents cannot afford their property taxes right now, Roden said. “Why wouldn’t we exhaust every effort we have as a council before putting this before voters?” she asked.
Councilor Shannon Corr countered that “to say we didn’t exhaust every avenue isn’t true.” There were several options presented and “we had time to read them and time to think about them.” Of the 18 presented, “I found value in two,” Corr said.
Councilor Jobe noted that the city has already added a $20 public safety fee per month, beginning in 2025. “I just think this is such a burden on people,” Jobe said.
“We’re faced with rate hikes everywhere,” observed City Councilor Kate Schwarzler. It is asking a lot of the community, but “I do think it’s an appropriate place to ask you (the public) to provide input on this” through voting. City Councilor Kathy Martin-Willis commented, “what we are doing is trusting the voters to decide for themselves” the value of the services.
“I do want the museum, the parks and the library,” added City Councilor Marilyn Morton. “We are asking the community what they think.”
City Councilor Jobe asked whether or not the loan for the museum, when it was taken out, was accounted for – during a period in what may already have been shown to be a financial squeeze for the city.
At the time to which Jobe refers, Trammart News attempted to find out how the museum would be funded – only the specifics of the loan were provided. At that time, one member of a museum committee confronted Trammart News over raising this question, asserting that the local news media was “against the city” for reporting on the growing municipal debt.
In 2017, the city’s municipal auditor at the time confirmed at a city council meeting worries about the debt. Last year, Mayor John McArdle and Councilor Morton were asked whether they recalled this advisory. Neither said they could remember it.
Other, more current questions by Trammart News haven’t been answered by the city’s communications coordinator. During one recent meeting, City Manager West characterized efforts by Trammart News to obtain information as “harassment.”
Staff has said that West has forbidden contact with this local news outlet. In a statement about this, West described an incident in which Trammart News followed her into the lobby restroom to inform her that the lack of responsiveness to press inquiries would have to be reported in news articles, to show that the city side was being sought for publication. Trammart News apologized for the intrusion to make this point; West has cited this as a reason to continue to ignore further press inquiries.
Councilor Morton has called the city’s approach during the process an example of “excellent transparency.”
Roden countered that she was “tired of being called a liar” for trying to keep the budget process open, reiterating that she stands by her assertion that the budget was decided prematurely. There was a “call for the question” during the budget meetings, which meant that the budget was approved “before we had the opportunity to really look at all the aspects of the budget.” Roden emphasized this viewpoint in a letter to the editor to the county newspaper at the time.
Four members of the budget committee dissented during the vote on the budget, an unprecedented number of “no” votes during the past decade.
Without passage of the levy, doors could shut for all three city services. If that happens, the city could utilize the money saved – over a million dollars annually – to more effectively “keep pace” with costs as they increase in the coming years, and use the revenue as a “buffer” for the future, according to Rob Moody, the city’s finance director.
The three entities are funded through June 30 and city councilors would need to meet if passage fails “to talk about what you want to do, what phasing and what timing,” said City Manager Kenna West.
If the levy fails, and there are work sessions – a series of meetings that West said would have to occur if voters fail to pass the measure – Roden said she is prepared to participate in them. Addressing the prospect of work sessions should the levy fail, she said: “We should have done those work sessions prior to putting it on the taxpayers’ back. We should have done this work beforehand.” ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
In a 4-2 vote, the Independence City Council voted to approve a levy for the November ballot that would provide funding for the museum, library and parks – if approved by voters. With City Councilors Dawn Roden and Sarah Jobe dissenting, the remaining four councilors approved sending a proposed levy that would add $1.82 per thousand dollars of assessed property value to homeowner tax bills.
Communication appeared to be strikingly divisive over the issue – now a more common occurrence at city council meetings. The Independence City Council increasingly has seemed to split into two factions. One has been characterized by some as the “old guard,” described as a tightly knit group of civic boosters that’s seen as a long-term cohesive group. The other segment consists of what a few have called “the twins,” a pair of committed belt-tighteners on the city council.
The proposed levy was one of two options – an alternative would have been to remove the museum – that was discussed at some length before the vote was taken. Early in the process, before the vote occurred Tuesday night, the communication among city councilors appeared to show a division.
The discussion, at times, showed strikingly different perceptions by councilors beginning with the budget process. “We had time while doing the budget this year to go over every issue we could have gone over to try to see where we could find funding to save these things,” asserted Roden.
“I do not want the museum to close. I do not want the library and parks to suffer. But I don’t want to put on people’s backs a tax burden that they cannot afford,” she said. “We should have exhausted all of our efforts during the budgeting process to see if we could have gotten money from other sources in our budget and we failed to do that.”
Instead, the budget was “pushed through and we didn’t have the opportunity to look at these things,” she said. Some residents cannot afford their property taxes right now, Roden said. “Why wouldn’t we exhaust every effort we have as a council before putting this before voters?” she asked.
Councilor Shannon Corr countered that “to say we didn’t exhaust every avenue isn’t true.” There were several options presented and “we had time to read them and time to think about them.” Of the 18 presented, “I found value in two,” Corr said.
Councilor Jobe noted that the city has already added a $20 public safety fee per month, beginning in 2025. “I just think this is such a burden on people,” Jobe said.
“We’re faced with rate hikes everywhere,” observed City Councilor Kate Schwarzler. It is asking a lot of the community, but “I do think it’s an appropriate place to ask you (the public) to provide input on this” through voting. City Councilor Kathy Martin-Willis commented, “what we are doing is trusting the voters to decide for themselves” the value of the services.
“I do want the museum, the parks and the library,” added City Councilor Marilyn Morton. “We are asking the community what they think.”
City Councilor Jobe asked whether or not the loan for the museum, when it was taken out, was accounted for – during a period in what may already have been shown to be a financial squeeze for the city.
At the time to which Jobe refers, Trammart News attempted to find out how the museum would be funded – only the specifics of the loan were provided. At that time, one member of a museum committee confronted Trammart News over raising this question, asserting that the local news media was “against the city” for reporting on the growing municipal debt.
In 2017, the city’s municipal auditor at the time confirmed at a city council meeting worries about the debt. Last year, Mayor John McArdle and Councilor Morton were asked whether they recalled this advisory. Neither said they could remember it.
Other, more current questions by Trammart News haven’t been answered by the city’s communications coordinator. During one recent meeting, City Manager West characterized efforts by Trammart News to obtain information as “harassment.”
Staff has said that West has forbidden contact with this local news outlet. In a statement about this, West described an incident in which Trammart News followed her into the lobby restroom to inform her that the lack of responsiveness to press inquiries would have to be reported in news articles, to show that the city side was being sought for publication. Trammart News apologized for the intrusion to make this point; West has cited this as a reason to continue to ignore further press inquiries.
Councilor Morton has called the city’s approach during the process an example of “excellent transparency.”
Roden countered that she was “tired of being called a liar” for trying to keep the budget process open, reiterating that she stands by her assertion that the budget was decided prematurely. There was a “call for the question” during the budget meetings, which meant that the budget was approved “before we had the opportunity to really look at all the aspects of the budget.” Roden emphasized this viewpoint in a letter to the editor to the county newspaper at the time.
Four members of the budget committee dissented during the vote on the budget, an unprecedented number of “no” votes during the past decade.
Without passage of the levy, doors could shut for all three city services. If that happens, the city could utilize the money saved – over a million dollars annually – to more effectively “keep pace” with costs as they increase in the coming years, and use the revenue as a “buffer” for the future, according to Rob Moody, the city’s finance director.
The three entities are funded through June 30 and city councilors would need to meet if passage fails “to talk about what you want to do, what phasing and what timing,” said City Manager Kenna West.
If the levy fails, and there are work sessions – a series of meetings that West said would have to occur if voters fail to pass the measure – Roden said she is prepared to participate in them. Addressing the prospect of work sessions should the levy fail, she said: “We should have done those work sessions prior to putting it on the taxpayers’ back. We should have done this work beforehand.” ▪
County commissioners delay considering non-profit request due to inadequate communication
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
The Polk County Board of Commissioners decided against approving a letter of support for a grant to supply legal aid and case management to renters risking eviction, citing last-minute pressure from the non-profit agency to do so.
The “no” may become a “yes” by the time the commissioners meet this Tuesday, but they seemed keen to register a strong complaint about what they saw as inadequate communication from the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (CAA).
Board of Commissioners Chair Craig Pope said he had just received word of the need for the letter, which was due within about a week. Under such short notice, “I won’t sign it,” he advised Robert Marshall, program manager for the CAA. Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst, who said he understood the desire for a quick endorsement, noted that “lack of communication is my challenge.”
The federal grant, for $2.5 million over two years, would put two attorneys and two case managers in place to help prevent evictions that lead to homelessness in Marion and Polk Counties, Marshall explained. The team approach would help address the threat of eviction for tenants before they reach the point of losing their living space, he said. Only about five percent of renters have access to an attorney, in contrast to more than 30% of landlords, he pointed out.
Although Commissioner Jeremy Gordon agreed with delaying the letter of support, he called the proposed program under the grant “another tool in the toolbox” to prevent homelessness.
However, Brent DeMoe, director of Family & Community Outreach for Polk County, said he’d also like to “put a pin in it.” CAA ought to be working cooperatively to promote coordination with the county, preventing a possible overlap of services, he said.
This wasn’t the first time the commissioners balked at approving a grant application they determined to be in need of more review.
Earlier this year, an executive of another non-profit didn’t provide the data that the commissioners – in particular Pope – requested to make a decision. The organization’s administrator seemed surprised, challenging Pope on his insistence for more detail. After the meeting, Pope said he considers “tax dollars to be tax dollars” even when they come from grant money.
The letter of approval requested for the grant by CAA’s Marshall seemed likely to be delayed rather than denied by the board. The board members who were asked about the postponement confirmed it was a “communication problem” not a rejection of the grant content. ▪
By Anne Scheck
Trammart News Service
The Polk County Board of Commissioners decided against approving a letter of support for a grant to supply legal aid and case management to renters risking eviction, citing last-minute pressure from the non-profit agency to do so.
The “no” may become a “yes” by the time the commissioners meet this Tuesday, but they seemed keen to register a strong complaint about what they saw as inadequate communication from the Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency (CAA).
Board of Commissioners Chair Craig Pope said he had just received word of the need for the letter, which was due within about a week. Under such short notice, “I won’t sign it,” he advised Robert Marshall, program manager for the CAA. Commissioner Lyle Mordhorst, who said he understood the desire for a quick endorsement, noted that “lack of communication is my challenge.”
The federal grant, for $2.5 million over two years, would put two attorneys and two case managers in place to help prevent evictions that lead to homelessness in Marion and Polk Counties, Marshall explained. The team approach would help address the threat of eviction for tenants before they reach the point of losing their living space, he said. Only about five percent of renters have access to an attorney, in contrast to more than 30% of landlords, he pointed out.
Although Commissioner Jeremy Gordon agreed with delaying the letter of support, he called the proposed program under the grant “another tool in the toolbox” to prevent homelessness.
However, Brent DeMoe, director of Family & Community Outreach for Polk County, said he’d also like to “put a pin in it.” CAA ought to be working cooperatively to promote coordination with the county, preventing a possible overlap of services, he said.
This wasn’t the first time the commissioners balked at approving a grant application they determined to be in need of more review.
Earlier this year, an executive of another non-profit didn’t provide the data that the commissioners – in particular Pope – requested to make a decision. The organization’s administrator seemed surprised, challenging Pope on his insistence for more detail. After the meeting, Pope said he considers “tax dollars to be tax dollars” even when they come from grant money.
The letter of approval requested for the grant by CAA’s Marshall seemed likely to be delayed rather than denied by the board. The board members who were asked about the postponement confirmed it was a “communication problem” not a rejection of the grant content. ▪
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