By Taxpayers Association of Oregon / OregonWatchdog.com
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The Oregon Department of Transportation has said that they are forced to make cuts.
Here is ODOT’s warning:
- Reduced road maintenance and weather response.
- More road safety issues due to deteriorating conditions and slower repairs.
- DMV service reductions.
- Less highway upkeep, such as litter and graffiti removal.
Here are some things to remember:
- A new Electric Vehicle tax in 2025 (HB 3991) provides tens of millions in new funds.
- The state gas tax went up 5% in 2024.
- The state gas tax has routinely gone up every 2-years since 2018.
- Oregon has been rated in the top 12 of state gas taxes.
- DMV fees went up by 100% in 2024.
- The State Budget grew double-digit.
- Tens of millions are being wasted on EV vehicle charging stations.
- Kotek signed PLA order which needlessly makes transportation projects more expensive.
- One of the reasons graffiti is so pervasive, is the fact that Portland doesn’t fully prosecute vandals. This means they continue to spray paint and vandalize because there is not enough consequence. Then Portland seeks ODOT state government bailouts by the millions to fix the problem they themselves perpetuate. ODOT will never have enough money to clean-up Portland’s mess until Portland treats criminals like criminals. The same rule applies to ODOT on highway homeless camp clean-ups.
We provide this list to show you the full picture of how your tax dollars are being spent.
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