In a letter sent to state legislators over the weekend, Salem Mayor Julie Hoy said she doesn’t support a $4.3 billion state transportation funding proposal, less than a month after signing a letter supporting the measure on behalf of the city. According to the Salem Reporter, Hoy said in the letter she feels the bills place a burden on working families, small businesses and rural residents by raising taxes and fees without requiring proper accountability and oversight of the Oregon Department of Transportation. She said she was not present during an Aug. 22 city legislative committee meeting but signed the letter anyway. While Hoy’s new letter explicitly stated it reflected her own position on the matter, she wrote it on city letterhead and signed it off as the mayor of Salem. The transportation package would raise Oregon’s gas tax and vehicle registration fees to pay for infrastructure upgrades, and road and bridge maintenance, and will go for a vote on the Senate floor on Sept. 29, according to the Oregon Capital Chronicle.
Mayor Hoy Voices Concern Over State Transportation Funding
