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Commissioner reports meeting with Rep. Evans; flags potential opposition to state bill affecting veteran service office funding
Summary
A Marion County board member reported meetings at the state capitol with Representative Evans about veteran housing and a legislative concept that could require review of veteran service office funding and redistribute allocations if funds are not used as intended; the board plans to receive more information next week and may oppose the bill.
MARION COUNTY, Ore. — A board member told the Marion County Board of Commissioners on Jan. 14 that meetings at the state capitol could open new funding opportunities for local veteran housing and that a forthcoming bill may prompt county opposition.
Unidentified Speaker 1, a board member, described a meeting with Representative Evans in which the representative discussed potential local appropriations for veteran housing projects — including "cottage type clusters" — and explained funding streams from agencies such as the Oregon Department of Veterans' Affairs that counties do not always access. "He also gave me an education on different types of funding that the legislatures approved over the years starting back from 2008 that I didn't know about," Unidentified Speaker 1 said.
Unidentified Speaker 1 said Rep. Evans has introduced two bills; one is a legislative concept governing veteran service office (VSO) funding. According to the board member, the concept would require a review of how counties bill back and spend VSO appropriations and could lead to redistributing funds to VSOs that are demonstrably using the money for the intended services. "Some counties per him are not utilizing it per the contract. They're using it to supplant other funds," Unidentified Speaker 1 said.
Board members discussed the pace and constraints of the 35-day short legislative session and the challenges that fast timelines pose for state-level education on county service delivery. Unidentified Speaker 1 said the board will receive information next week about a bill they expect to oppose because of its potential to disrupt county service delivery. No formal board position was adopted at the Jan. 14 meeting.
The meeting record includes no testimony from outside stakeholders on the issue; commissioners encouraged continued coordination with legislators during the session.
