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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 22, 2016)
3A THE DAILY ASTORIAN • THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2016 Legislators weigh PERS options, but reach no consensus Unfunded liability looming for state By CLAIRE WITHYCOMBE Capital Bureau SALEM — A bipartisan work group aimed at reforming the state’s Public Employees Retirement System started tak- ing input on the issue Wednes- day afternoon, but reached no consensus. The system faces $21.8 bil- lion in unfunded liability — money it owes to PERS bene- iciaries but cannot pay. Though several comment- ers, including the mayor of Hillsboro and a Bend-La Pine School District board mem- ber, seemed to agree change is needed to both address grow- ing costs to local governments and meet legal requirements, it was not clear what direction the intended reforms may take. While state Sen. Betsy John- son, D-Scappoose, described PERS as a “supercharged and emotional” topic, it’s also com- plex. Steve Rodeman, the exec- utive director of PERS, spent the irst 45 minutes of the meet- ing providing a high-level explanation of the system. In 2013, the Legislature passed a set of reforms aimed at mitigating growing costs, but those reforms were largely struck down by the Oregon Supreme Court last year. As a result of the court’s decision and low investment returns, public employers will have to contribute $2.9 billion to the system in the next budget cycle, a hike of $885 million. The Legislature is allowed to make changes to current public employees’ beneits, but beneits that have already accrued cannot be altered, according to the ruling in that case, Moro v. Oregon. With this parameter in mind, Johnson, and Sen. Tim Knopp, R-Bend, are leading the charge in an attempt to address the unfunded liability through a work group. Legislative counsel has vetted 10 possibilities, and late last month released an analysis inding seven of them likely constitutional. Johnson said the August indings by legislative coun- sel were not the only options available to legislators. Senior Deputy Legisla- tive Counsel Marisa James said that her ofice’s analy- sis of those possibilities was largely in agreement with a legal analysis presented this week by a Portland law irm, Bennett, Hartman, Morris & Kaplan, LLP, on behalf of ive public employee unions. In a letter submitted to Johnson and Knopp, repre- sentatives of those unions said they were “deeply skeptical” that the reform effort “is about inding ‘solutions’ or taking a broader look at all the budget- ary challenges the state faces.” unused vacation and sick time payments to be included when calculating the inal salary. In the Aug. 31 letter, legis- lative counsel acknowledged that some of these possibili- ties, though likely constitu- tional, could prove politically controversial and risk being challenged in court. The three options that didn’t make the cut set by legislative counsel included changing the retirement age, reducing a factor by which years of service and inal average salary are multiplied in the formula used to calcu- late pension beneit, or dis- continuing the pension pro- gram altogether. Several options Some examples of those possibilities include institut- ing a $100,000 cap on inal annual salary used to calcu- late beneits, using a market rate for annuities, and calcu- lating the beneit based on the average of the last ive years of salary instead of the last three. Another option would stop the practice of allowing Knopp and Johnson at the work group meeting Wednes- day, said that her school dis- trict faces signiicant person- nel cuts as a result of increased PERS costs. Tim Nesbitt, a former adviser to former gover- nors John Kitzhaber and Ted Kulongoski, in com- ments at the request of the Oregon Business Council, said that the state must be mindful of moderating cost increases as a percentage of local government and dis- trict payroll. He said that continued increases could divert money from the local services that those districts and govern- ments provide. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Increased costs Cheri Helt, a member of the board of Bend-La Pine Schools, in comments to Toxin levels stall Poll shows support for repealing razor clam digs statewide ban on rent control at Long Beach By JIM REDDEN Captial Bureau The Daily Astorian OLYMPIA, Wash. – Rising marine toxin lev- els have prompted the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife to delay upcoming razor clam digs at Long Beach and to review openings at other ocean beaches. The department contin- ues to watch toxin levels to determine whether razor clam digging can proceed at Twin Harbors, Copalis and Mocrocks beaches. Fish and wildlife had previously set a tentative schedule of digs for Oct. 14 through Dec. 31 at the four ocean beaches. However, digs at Long Beach are on hold until tests indicate toxin levels have dropped and the clams are safe to eat, said Dan Ayres, wildlife department coastal shellish manager. Test results on razor clams dug recently at Long Beach indicate lev- els of domoic acid exceed the threshold (20 ppm) set by state public health ofi- cials. Domoic acid, a natu- ral toxin produced by cer- tain types of marine algae, can be harmful or even fatal if consumed in suficient quantities. Ayres noted that toxin levels also have increased over the past week at the other sites, but remain below the threshold set by public health officials. “These latest toxin test results cast uncertainty on the fall razor clam season,” Ayres said. “We hope this is a short-term spike in toxin levels that won’t lead to closures at other beaches.” Elevated levels of domoic acid forced state shellfish managers to cut short the razor clam season in spring 2015 and delay the opening again last fall. As housing costs increase across the state, a slim majority of Oregon voters support repealing the state- wide ban on rent control — with the most support being in the Portland area. According to a new poll by DHM Research, 52 per- cent of statewide voters sup- port eliminating the existing ban on rent control. Support is highest in the Portland area, where 58 per- cent support a change in Oregon laws to allow cities and counties to enact their own rent control policies. Voters in the Willamette Valley are also supportive, but less so, at 52 percent. Voters elsewhere in the state are split on the issue: 42 per- cent support ending the ban and 44 percent oppose it. State House Speaker Tina Kotek, a Portland Democrat, recently said she will ask the Legislature to repeal the statewide ban on rent control. According to the poll, partisan politics play a role in the issue. Statewide, 60 percent of Democrats sup- port repealing the ban, com- pared to 53 percent of nonaf- filiated voters and 39 percent of Republicans. DHM Research says the debate over rent con- trol is happening at a time when many voters are feel- ing squeezed by the cost of housing. A little more than one-quarter of respondents indicate that their housing costs, including basic util- ities, exceed 30 percent of their income. Although the affordability issue affects residents from all parts of the state, in the Portland area, 28 percent of voters say their housing costs are too high. That compares to 23 percent in the Willa- mette Valley and 25 percent in the rest of the state. Portland-area voters are also the most likely to view housing in their area as unaffordable, regardless of their personal circum- stances, the poll found. A majority of Portland-area voters — 56 percent — say housing in the community is not too affordable or not at all affordable. Just 6 per- cent of Portland-area vot- ers say housing costs in their community are “very affordable.” In contrast, a majority of voters in the Willamette Val- ley (57 percent) and else- where in the state (54 per- cent) say housing in their community is affordable. DHM Research is a wide- ly-respected Portland polling firm. Its telephone survey of 517 registered Oregon voters was conducted from Sept. 1 through Sept. 6. It has a mar- gin or error of plus or minus 4.3 percentage points. The Capital Bureau is a collaboration between EO Media Group and Pamplin Media Group. Cla t sop Post 12 Spaghetti Dinner with Tossed Salad, Veggie and Garlic Bread Friday Sept. 23 rd 4 pm ‘til gone $7 .00 GO ONLINE 6PM “Karaoke Dave” ASTORIA AMERICAN LEGION www.dailyastorian.com Cla t sop Post 12 1132 Exchange Street 325-5771 W ILLIAM (B ILL ) L AWS S EPTEMBER 11, 1961 - S EPTEMBER 14, 2016 T a co Feed Shela’s Fam ous Tacos! th Saturday, Septem ber 24 12 M onths Huge 10am - 4PM Sam e As Savings! Cash! Our beloved Bill Laws died suddenly on September 14, 2016, at the age of 55 in Jack- sonville, FL, where he moved recently (less than 3-months ago) with his family. A resident of over 20 years in Seaside, Bill was known for helping others. He also enjoyed fi shing and restoring classic cars. Bill was born to William and Hazel Laws in Seattle, WA on September 11, 1961. He spent his early childhood in Seattle; his teenage years in Florida; and then moved to Hillsboro, OR where he met his wife of over 30 years, Teri Moreland-Laws. Bill was a very loving and caring husband. The biggest love of Bill’s life, his pride and joy, are his children: daughter Michon; “The Twin’s” daughter Brooke and son Drake; and his grandson “Papa’s Little Man” Tris- ten. Bill was preceded in death by his beloved son Robert. Bill is survived by his wife Teri Moreland-Laws, his parents Bill and Lin Laws of Ilwaco, WA; brother Bob and sister-in-law Karmera Laws; 20-40% off all furniture! MON-FRI: 8-6PM SAT: 9-5PM SUN: 10-4PM Appliance & Home Furnishings “We Service What We Sell” 503-861-0929 529 SE MARLIN AVENUE , WARRENTON, OR Bill’s family needs your help to bring Bill home and to relocate back to Seaside where they will have the love and support they need. An account has been opened at the Bank of the Pacifi c. Cash donations can be taken to any Bank of the Pacifi c branch, checks can be made payable to Teri-Moreland Laws. Teri and the kids want to thank everyone for their loving support. “It’s meant the world to us.” Bill’s memorial service is in the works and will be announced. There is a Gofundme account set up to help Bill’s family. Please go to : www.gofundme.com/2pdju5n7?ssid=742490813&pos=1 if you would like to contribute. Ca k e C hip s H ot H a m D ogs R e fr bu rge rs e shm e nts Cu stom e r Appre c ia tion rize s P e l f R a f w a ys! a G ive P ICNIC S ATURDAY , S EPT. 24 1 1 AM -2PM a t Ba ysho re Anim a l H o spita l Hours: L ove Y a B ill. ANNUAL O.A.C. Custom er Appreci ati on brother Brian Laws and sister Arin; brother- in-law Dave Harnsberger; nephews Brandon, Darrin, Devin, Cody and Aiden; and countless cousins. Bill is also survived by his best friends Phil and Lauri Hullender; Rick James; Sam Rayburn; Mike Shade and many, many more friends. 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