SALEM, Ore. – The League of Oregon Cities (LOC) has targeted the following four issues as legislative priorities for the 2017 session of the Oregon Legislature:
- Property Tax Finance Reform:
- Seek to provide more local voter control and to restore greater equity and fairness in the property tax system through a transition to a market value-based system and allowing voters to adopt tax levies and rates outside current limits.
- Restoring Recreational Immunity:
- Passage of legislation extending recreational immunity to employees, officers and agents of land owners providing recreational facilities.
- Transportation Funding: o Help draft and support passage of a comprehensive, inter-modal, statewide transportation funding package.
- PERS Reform:
- Seek legislation that creates savings, including but not limited to: bringing PERS investments in-house; reducing the money match rate; and/or redirecting the IAP contributions to the defined benefit plan. The League also supports allocating increased state revenues to protect current levels of service through a state funding of a portion of the large PERS rate increases facing public employers.
The League will also be actively engaged in supporting needed housing assistance programs, increasing funding for water supply development, and maintaining and expanding resources for mental health. The League’s 2017 legislative priorities were formally adopted today by its board of directors.
During the week of September 12-16, the priorities will be the focus of City Hall Week, a series of regional meetings hosted by cities throughout Oregon in which legislative candidates will be briefed on the League’s position on each issue.
About the League of Oregon Cities
Founded in 1925, the League of Oregon Cities is a voluntary association representing all 241 of Oregon’s incorporated cities. The League helps cities serve their citizens by providing legislative advocacy services, policy consultation, intergovernmental relations assistance, networking and training, technical assistance and publications.
