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Portland committee backs ending newspaper publication requirement; staff estimates $50,000 annual savings
Summary
The Legislative & Nomination Committee voted to provide written testimony supporting LD2042, a bill that would eliminate newspaper publication requirements for municipalities; staff estimated the change could save about $50,000 a year and will draft testimony for the clerk.
The Portland Legislative & Nomination Committee voted Jan. 13 to provide written testimony in favor of LD2042, a bill that would remove the statutory requirement that municipalities publish certain public notices in a newspaper.
City Manager Danielle West told the committee staff recommends supporting the bill and said eliminating the newspaper-publication requirement would save the city an estimated $50,000 a year. "We do spend a significant amount on that, in various ways," West said. Councilor Kate Sykes moved that the committee provide written testimony in favor; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
West said the city clerk — who has recently left city employment — and the state clerks association have discussed the proposal and that the clerk had recommended supporting the measure. Staff indicated the change would reduce recurring publication costs across several departments. The committee asked staff to draft testimony and coordinate final approval before submission.
The committee also noted procedural steps: staff will route a draft to the interim clerk for review and return to the committee for a formal submission. No ordinance or local policy change was made at the meeting; the action is limited to preparing and sending written testimony on LD2042.
Next steps: staff will prepare the draft testimony for the committee’s signature and confirm timing with the clerk’s office.
