Before we get started, we’d like to offer a tip-of-the-hat to the Corvallis Community Center for hosting a community-wide volunteer fair. If you’re looking for ways to get involved with the community, drop in and visit with a variety of local agencies to see how you can support our fair burgh.
All ages are welcome, it runs from 1 to 4 pm, Friday, Oct. 13 at the Corvallis Community Center, 2601 NW Tyler Ave. Click here to learn more.
And now, some highlights of what’s happening with our local government…
Tax Levy Town Hall Tonight: Every five years, Corvallis voters are asked if they would like to continue paying added tax dollars for expanded city services – and with ballots due on November 7, that time is again almost upon us.
At a CitySpeak town hall slated for tonight, Oct. 10, at 6 pm, Corvallis Mayor Charles Maughan, Library Director Ashlee Chavez, and Parks & Recreation Director Meredith Petit will field questions on Measure 2-141.
You can watch this CitySpeak forum live on The Advocate’s YouTube or Facebook pages, or on The Corvallis Advocate website. If you can’t make the live event, the video will be available later on all three of those platforms.
You can also go to the Corvallis Advocate website to submit any questions you would like asked.
What the Livability Levy Buys: Corvallis currently imposes $1.07 in added property taxes per $1,000 of assessed value, City officials are seeking voter approval to continue this optional local levy at the same rate for another five years.
According to the City’s filings for the election, if the levy passes, $480,000 in grants would be directed annually to local social service agencies. 51.9% of the remaining revenue, after that $480,000, would go to the Corvallis Public Library, which would continue its currently expanded open days and hours – and added materials, programs, and outreach. In the first year, that would be $3,137,511.
48.1% of the remaining revenue, after the social services grants, would go to continue expanded Parks & Recreation programs, the Osborn Aquatic Center, Corvallis Community Center, the Majestic Theatre, and Parks services and maintenance. In the first year it would amount to $2,907,789.
Construction Tax Increase: For every square foot of new construction in the Corvallis School District’s service area, there’s a tax, and the Board will be considering a resolution to increase it at their Thursday, Oct. 12 meeting.
If passed, the excise tax for residential construction would increase from $1.00 to $1,56 per square foot starting January 1, 2024. That seems like a large increase, but the School Board hasn’t adjusted it since 2009, even though state law envisions yearly, so this one time large spike would be to catch-up.
The yearly increase is supposed to be tied to inflation using the Engineering News-Record Construction Cost Index – and that increase is supposed to happen each July.
Also, it’s not just an excise tax on residential construction, the resolution calls for the commercial rate to rise from $0.50 to $0.78 a square foot. State law caps the tax on commercial construction at $39,100 currently, and it is also indexed to inflation.
The school district says, “Based on the proposed rate increases and average tax collections over the last three fiscal years, the district would receive approximately $175,000 – $200,000 in additional construction excise taxes in future years to be used for capital improvements.”
Benton Wades Seriously Into Flood Risks: Located in the heart of the Willamette River Basin, and with several watersheds flowing through the County, much of Benton County faces the threat of periodic flooding. To help the region minimize these risks, Benton County convened a regional floodplain discussion in coordination with the Oregon Silver Jackets Team, at the Kalapuya Building in Corvallis on September 26.
Wait, what’s the Silver Jackets Team? It’s comprised of key federal and state agencies – the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Federal Emergency Management Agency, National Weather Service, Oregon’s Department of Emergency Management, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and Oregon Department of Land Conservation and Development.
Benton County’s Floodplain Administrator and Senior Planner Toby Lewis was a key convener of the regional event – and it’s a bigger deal than it might appear – ours is the only county in the state to scale-up a meeting like this.
“We invited colleagues who work with floodplains and manage flood risks to spend the day together learning about best available tools, and the critical information we all need to prepare for and respond to flood risks. We are collaborating across professions and with state and federal partners, and working together to improve community resilience during flood events,” Lewis said.
Paul Sclafani, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Floodplain Management Services Program Manager, noted the significance of the event.
“The Silver Jackets agencies have recently updated maps in the Willamette River basin. Realizing that this information could be invaluable for the County and other jurisdictions, we wanted to show them what we have,” Sclafani said.
The potential for shared learning and coordination among flood risk managers at all levels inspired Lewis and Sclafani to organize this unique event. Sclafani emphasized the importance of local insight that flood professionals bring to the table and said the first-time event will likely serve as a template for other local jurisdictions in Oregon.
“I appreciate Benton County having the foresight to suggest we conduct this event. It is nice to have someone at the local level (Lewis) who has been around for a long time and brings a level of practicality. That really helps.”
Other Oregon Counties may Follow Benton’s Lead: Sclafani added that the event may serve as a template for other counties in Oregon to have an important opportunity to coordinate with local, state and federal partners.
“One of the things I like most about floodplain work is that it creates opportunities for needed communication and collaboration among a wide variety of audiences and professions. I am incredibly grateful for the enthusiasm with which the presenters and staff embraced the idea for this event. We are all excited to see the new opportunities for collaboration and engagement that will come from today’s conversations,” Lewis said.
This event emphasized the role of floodplain management in safeguarding lives and property, as well as the importance of communicating risks and hazards to the affected community.
Matt Chase, a Dam Safety Program Manager with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, emphasized the shared responsibility in understanding flood risks saying: “I like to help the public understand their risk; it’s a shared responsibility that I care about.”
Dale Meck, a Civil Engineer with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), highlighted the federal role in creating maps to aid local governments and individuals make informed decisions.
“The Federal Government, FEMA, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers make various maps to help local governments and individuals make good decisions about what they do with their property and where they put their infrastructure,” said Meck.
This collaborative effort serves as an example of how proactive floodplain management, including the maps and insights shared, equip Benton County and partners with valuable tools to mitigate the impacts of flooding, protect the community, and support a secure future. As the first of its kind, this event is a testament to the commitment of all involved to create comprehensive and sustainable solutions to the flood hazard challenges faced by the region.
It’s early days, but we’ll keep you posted on all that’s being learned.
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