County legislative staff and transportation officials told commissioners that attacks on the statewide transportation funding package could unintentionally strip resources local road departments rely on.

Doug Riggs and county transportation staff briefed the board on the unfolding debate in Salem. Riggs described the debate over an accountability package for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) and said a House Republican proposal would cut a large portion of existing ODOT funding “including all the stiff funding. That's $306,000,000,” a point he said would be “a problem for local governments.”

Transportation manager Chris (county staff) told the board that counties are largely funded through a share of the state highway fund and that much of the proposed debate and cuts are tied to mega‑project funding in the Portland area rather than operations and maintenance for local roads. “When they’re taking aim at ODOT, they're actually completely obliterating, county road department funding opportunities,” Chris said, and asked commissioners to remind legislators to preserve core operations and maintenance funding while targeting accountability where it is needed.

Why it matters: County roads depend on a steady share of state highway funding for operations, maintenance and local projects. Staff warned that wholesale cuts could reduce plowing, safety work and local project delivery.

Context and session timing: Doug Riggs and other staff noted the May 14 revenue forecast would shape final budget planning and that Ways and Means and second‑chamber deadlines are approaching. Riggs said Ways and Means was preparing multiple scenarios — flat, modest growth, and larger cuts tied to federal actions — and cautioned that local programs could face funding risk depending on the final forecast.

Concerns about contentious bills: Commissioners also asked about Senate Bill 916 (a measure discussed in Salem that would allow public employees on strike to receive unemployment benefits). Riggs said SB 916 was “very contentious” and suggested it did not yet have the votes to pass, adding that if amendments were adopted in the House the bill would have to return to the Senate for concurrence.

Ending: Commissioners asked staff to continue outreach to the delegation and to press the message that accountability reforms should not be achieved by making sweeping cuts to funding counties use for local road operations.