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McMinnville resident urges commissioners to oppose state gas-tax and registration-fee increases
Summary
Chris Chenoweth of McMinnville urged the county board to oppose a proposed 6-cent gas-tax increase and large vehicle-registration fee hikes, saying most public testimony he viewed in Salem opposed the measures.
Chris Chenoweth of McMinnville delivered public comment at the Sept. 11 Yamhill County Board of Commissioners meeting urging the board to consider the financial effect of a proposed state gas-tax increase and larger vehicle-registration fees on lower-income residents.
Chenoweth said he watched testimony in Salem about a transportation funding bill estimated in public reports at between $5.6 billion and $5.8 billion and that he was concerned about the distributional effects on McMinnville residents, who he said are below the state median income and are in many cases rent-burdened. He told commissioners that in public testimony about the bill, "94% of the testimony that came in on this bill was in opposition to increasing the gas tax by 6 cents a gallon" and that he was "very disappointed that one of my county commissioners joined what was clearly a fringe minority position and supported this gas tax." He asked the board to represent constituents experiencing economic pressure.
Why it matters: The comment reflects local constituent concern about state-level transportation funding options and asks county elected officials to consider constituent economic burdens when representing the county in broader forums.
Context and clarifications
- Chenoweth identified himself as a McMinnville resident and said he has advocated for tax protection for five years. He urged the board to represent constituents who oppose the gas-tax increase and major increases in vehicle registration fees.
- The transcript records Chenoweths account of testimony percentages and his characterization of a county commissioners vote; those figures and the commissioners specific vote in Salem were Chenoweths assertions during public comment and not a formal board action in this meeting.
Speakers quoted in this summary are limited to those who spoke during the public-comment period.
