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State senator outlines budget, transportation standoff and local grant opportunities
Summary
Senator Starr told the Dundee council the Legislature passed a balanced budget, described a breakdown in bipartisan transportation negotiations that led to a special-session revenue bill, and said organizers aim to gather 78,116 signatures to put the bill to a public vote; he also encouraged Dundee to seek state grant support for local infrastructure.
Senator Starr this evening briefed the Dundee City Council on the recent legislative and special sessions and flagged several items likely to affect local infrastructure planning.
“The legislature has to pass a balanced budget, and the legislature did that,” Starr said of the completed session. He described bipartisan work on transportation funding that collapsed late in negotiations and said the majority proceeded with a revenue-raising bill in special session. Starr said organizers plan to collect signatures to refer that revenue bill to the ballot and cited a required threshold of 78,116 valid Oregon voter signatures to force a statewide vote.
Starr told the council his office secured some state dollars for Dundee projects, including funds toward a 5th Street street and water-pipe project and a grant tied to parks previously described to city staff. He encouraged the city to coordinate with his office and the delegation when pursuing state grants and said his new committee assignments put him on the Ways and Means (budget) and Rules committees, where he can help advocate for local projects.
On state fiscal posture, Starr said budget chairs have requested 5% reductions across agency budgets in response to a softening revenue forecast and broader federal fiscal pressures. He urged local officials to prepare for constrained state funding and to engage early on infrastructure grant opportunities.
What’s next: Starr encouraged Dundee officials to coordinate with his office on grant applications and to watch for staff guidance from state agencies on program changes that could affect local funding opportunities.
