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About East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current | View Entire Issue (April 21, 2018)
Page 12A OFF PAGE ONE East Oregonian Saturday, April 21, 2018 WELLNESS: School received $2,500 check that will go toward programs Continued from 1A “It gets the kids more awake and ready to go. Sometimes we’ll have conversations about what’ll happen that day,” he said. Angie Treadwell, the nutrition education coordi- nator for OSU Extension Service, nominated McNary Heights for the award. They were one of only three schools in the state to receive the honor from the Oregon Department of Education. The school received a $2,500 check that will go toward wellness programs. “Their participation rate is in the high 90s,” Tread- well said of the breakfast program. “They make it easy for everyone to participate.” Treadwell noted the other programs that Umatilla School District provides, such as its summer foods Staff photos by E.J. Harris LEFT: Fifth-graders eat breakfast at their desks Friday morning at McNary Heights Elementary School in Uma- tilla. McNary Heights Elementary is being recognized by the Oregon Department of Education for their school food programs. RIGHT: Child nutritional assistant Nan Schock opens boxes of cereal while preparing breakfast on Friday at McNary Heights Elementary School in Umatilla. program where students can eat breakfast, lunch and dinner for free at the school. “That’s highly unusual,” she said. They also had a guest speaker, former University of Oregon and NFL player Anthony Newman. Newman, an Oregon native, congratulated students on their commit- ment to physical health. “Your day is like a game,” he said. “My first year in the NFL, I didn’t eat before a game in Green Bay.” Newman recalled that he felt lightheaded during the game, and went to his trainer. “The first thing he asked me was, ‘what did you eat today?’” “And then I got in trouble,” Newman said. “You have to make sure you put something in your system so you can perform at a higher level. If you put the right food in your system, it’s going to help you take that test.” Newman said it’s important for students to exercise and eat right together, like a family. “You may not even realize it, but you have role models around you,” he said. Students were also rewarded for running the “McNary Marathon,” where students over a period of two weeks pledge to walk or run a certain number of laps around the track during recess. The top three boys and girls from each grade were given a certificate and a prize at the assembly. “Teachers, staff and parents make sure our kids have a chance to celebrate exercise,” said McNary Heights P.E. teacher Brandt Lind. –—— Contact Jayati Ramakrishnan at 541-564- 4534 or jramakrishnan@ eastoregonian.com. DISTRICT: New tax goes into effect for the county that passes it Continued from 1A What would the new tax revenue pay for? Both agricultural research and 4-H, though the specifics will be decided with each new budget. Corp said she could not pin down what percent of the funds would go toward 4-H, but the Extension Service is proposing to use the revenue to expand 4-H education by adding a new educational program assistant and a 4-H educator. Corp said the tax would not go to support administration. Could the tax revenue support building projects or improvements? Yes, but Corp and other Extension Service personnel stated their plans are more about staffing support and better equipment. Besides, Corp said, the local Extension Service lacks capacity for building improvements. How much would I pay in property taxes if this passes? Maybe nothing, maybe something — thanks to tax compression. Oregon voters approved Measure 5 and Measure 50, which cap government taxes to a maximum of $15 per $1,000 of assessed value. Once a taxing district reaches that ceiling, it is under compression. New taxes that voters approve do not increase the size of the pie, rather the slices get thinner as new districts carve out their share. Hermiston is under compression. Property owners there would not see an increase in their taxes if Measure 30-126 passes. The new service district would cut into the revenues for other districts, including public safety districts. Milton-Freewater, mean- while, is not under compres- sion. Those residents would see their property tax increase by that 33 cent rate. So the owners of a $150,000 home there would see an increase of $49.50 to their property taxes. The tax rates are available at www.co.umatilla.or.us/at/ index.html. Who would oversee the new district? Umatilla County counsel Doug Olsen said the county board of commissioners would be in charge because the district would be a county service district, the only one in the county. Likewise, Morrow County’s board would oversee the district there. County service districts are not the same as special districts, such as fire protec- tion or water districts, which have their own boards of directors. County commissioners also would appoint a budget committee for the district. Corp said Oregon law spec- ifies the budget committee would have to consist of the three county commis- sioners and three non-board members. Again, one for Umatilla County and another for Morrow County. Umatilla County Commis- sioner George Murdock said with similar districts in 25 of Oregon’s 36 counties, the county could look for a model “that is working well elsewhere should it become necessary.” An advisory committee would be part of the model, which Corp and others already formed. boards could seek less than the rate, however. What are the tax rates of the 25 other Extension Service districts? They range from 1.5 cents to 56 cents per $1,000. The local proposals would be the second highest rate among the districts. What happens if this passes in only one county? The new tax goes into effect for the county that passes it. If voters in Morrow County approve it and voters in Umatilla County don’t, the tax would take effect only in Morrow County. Will the counties continue to fund the district even if the taxes pass? Yes, in the short term. Olsen said should the districts pass, the tax collection deadline is April 30, so revenues would not be available until 2019. Umatilla County is giving about $397,000 for fiscal year 2018-19, and Morrow County also plans to provide funds. Morrow County for fiscal year 2017-18 gave about $167,000. How long the counties would provide the fiscal support remains an open Could the county raise the rate? No. The measure calls for a maximum permanent rate of 33 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. That means the county board of commis- sioners could not increase the rate beyond 33 cents. County question. How would the new tax affect the broader mission of the Columbia Basin Agri- cultural Research Center? CBARC, which has a facility in Pendleton and another in Moro, specializes in regional crops production research. It focuses on dryland wheat, Corp said, and 40 percent of the dryland wheat Oregon produces comes from Umatilla County alone. Morrow County next door adds around 10-20 percent. The Extension Service already puts in budget requests each year with Umatilla and Morrow counties, and Corp said in her experience the commissioners know the value of ag and know its the local economic driver, but they don’t try to micromanage what research scientists are doing. “I can’t foresee that, really,” she said. S There’s a perfect TOYOTA for everyone! CAR 2018 Corolla 0 %APR 60 mos. 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