Consultants tell Albany council voters view streets as a top issue but many don’t know how they’re funded

Consultants from Concert North America and DHM Research told the Albany City Council on April 7 that residents rank street conditions among the top community concerns but many do not understand how street maintenance is funded.

The presentation, by Clark Worth of Concert North America and John Horvage of DHM Research, said research carried out in 2024 and follow-up work in early 2025 found a citywide annual funding gap for street maintenance that the consultants quantified at about $12,800,000. The consultants said 55% of survey respondents rated the city’s street maintenance as poor, and 40% of respondents said they did not know where transportation funding comes from.

Why it matters: The council is considering local funding options, including a transportation utility fee and discussion of gas-tax approaches. The consultants emphasized that voter education about where transportation dollars come from — and the trade-offs involved — will be critical if Albany pursues a ballot measure or local fee.

Key findings and methods

DHM’s Horvage summarized the research methods: focus groups (two held in 2024 and two in early 2025, the consultants said) and a telephone/hybrid survey (300 registered voters in 2024, with a new survey completed for 2025 and results pending). The 2025 focus groups targeted “likely voters” (people who voted in at least three of the last four elections) rather than the broader registered-voter sample used in 2024.

Consultants said the research showed three notable themes: residents prioritize repairs to streets in the worst condition (especially older neighborhood streets); there is significant confusion about how street maintenance is funded (many assume property taxes pay for roads); and once participants were given clear information about revenue sources and trade-offs, they became more open to targeted local funding options.

"When people don't know where the money comes from, they reflexively think the money can be moved from other services," Horvage said. "When they know more, they're more open to solutions." (John Horvage, DHM Research.)

Policy context and state legislation

The consultants also reminded council that the Oregon Legislature was considering an omnibus transportation package in 2025 that could include a phased gas-tax increase and new local options. Clark Worth said the statewide package could generate between $1 billion and $2 billion per biennium overall but that most revenue in the package would be aimed at ODOT; it was unclear how much — if any — would be shared with cities.

Consultants cautioned that local options in the bill (such as authorization to enact a local fuel tax without voter approval or new vehicle-registration fees at the county level) had not yet cleared committee hearings and remained uncertain.

What council asked for and next steps

Council members asked for more detailed data and for the raw open-ended survey responses with personally identifiable information removed; consultants agreed to provide PII-free data files. Council also asked for slide decks and a final report. The consultants said they expect to deliver a complete final report and full survey results in May and will return to the council at the May 28 meeting for additional discussion.

Additional context

The consultants noted changes between 2024 and 2025 that affect voter sentiment: in 2024 the research was closer to the peak of higher gas prices and inflation, while in 2025 those pressures had eased slightly, but residents had also lived another year with visible street deterioration.

The presentation also flagged equity concerns: participants worried about the impact of new utility-style fees on households with constrained incomes and suggested that tiered rates or low-income discounts would increase acceptability.

Sources: Presentation to Albany City Council by Concert North America and DHM Research on April 7, 2025; consultants' slides and remarks.