The Umatilla City Council voted to direct staff to prepare two resolutions for the Aug. 5 meeting: one to place a measure on the Nov. 4, 2025 ballot to fund construction of an all-new police station, and a second to establish a residential public-safety account credit that would be conditioned upon passage of that bond.

City Manager Dave told the council the residential credit concept rests on language in recent enterprise-zone agreements with major data centers that include a "future bonding" clause. He described the clause as an obligation for those companies to pay as if they were not receiving an abatement if voters approve a public-facility bond; staff said that clause could deliver about $33.75 million in payments to the city if a bond passes.

The city sought a legal opinion from the League of Oregon Cities on whether it could apply a public-safety credit to residential utility accounts as an inverse of a charge; the league advised the city that such a credit is permissible. Staff characterized the credit as a way to offset residential property-tax payments on a penny-for-penny basis: if a resident pays $X toward the bond, the city would credit roughly the same amount to a utility account using general-fund dollars should the bond pass, producing a net-zero effect for the resident while preserving access to the enterprise-zone funds.

Council debate focused on several political and technical issues. Some councilors worried the city had already told voters it would pursue a full faith-and-credit loan if a bond failed and that presenting a new, different funding option now could undercut public trust; others argued the credit method would reduce the general-fund burden dramatically (staff estimated a roughly $115,000 annual general-fund cost if the bond passes with the credit, versus approximately $1.5 million annual general-fund debt service if the city pursued a full faith-and-credit loan instead).

Councilor Klayn moved the staff-direction motion; it was seconded and passed by recorded roll call with Councilor Funderburg, Councilor Duffloff, Councilor Katie McMillan, Councilor Smith, Councilor Dennis McMillan and Councilor McLean voting "aye." Staff noted the county elections deadline for placing a measure on the Nov. ballot is Aug. 15 and that a resolution must be passed at the Aug. 5 council meeting to meet that timeline.

The motion sends two drafts to council for formal consideration: a bond-placement resolution and a conditional residential public-safety account credit. Council members and staff said they will continue public outreach and the city will use the Secretary of State "Safe Harbor" review process for impartial ballot materials so long as timing permits.