By Taxpayers Association of Oregon / OregonWatchdog.com
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Willamette Week reported on a big lie by ODOT of $7B proportions surrounding the I-5 replacement bridge project, “Documents recently obtained by the Oregon Journalism Project, however, show the staff’s claim it couldn’t provide new cost estimates was false. In fact, Interstate Bridge Replacement project consultants had completed highly detailed, updated cost estimates for the project by Aug. 15—four months before the December meeting. And the new estimates are ugly: The cost of a fixed-span bridge over the Columbia River that would not have to open and close for ships—the design IBR staff favors—had ballooned from $6 billion to $13.6 billion….On Jan. 7, OJP shared the new cost estimates with Reps. Ley and Tran. Both said they felt Francis and IBR staff had betrayed them and the people of Oregon and Washington.“Frankly, it is shocking to realize that they lied, on the record, not only to me, but to the committee and, by extension, the public at large,” Tran told OJP.” (read more)
ODOT knew the project costs grew from $6 billion to $13 billion, but did not report it in August to lawmakers which was right before the September vote on the ODOT funding package. The same data was not revealed to lawmakers in early December, while there was a campaign underway to stop the gas tax with a referendum drive (led by chief petitioners Senator Bruce Starr, Representative Ed Diehl, Jason Williams of the Taxpayers Association).
This is the exact problem faced earlier last year when ODOT was faulted for hiding their $1 billion dollar accounting error.
Oregon agencies are actively hiding budget problems and budget erros until after they secure their two-year budget from lawmakers. This is unacceptable.
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