Image provided by: Morrow County Museum; Heppner, OR
About Heppner gazette-times. (Heppner, Or.) 1925-current | View Entire Issue (March 13, 1991)
Measure 5: What did Oregon voters really want? By Judge Louis Carlson VOL 110 NO. 11__________ Wednesday, March 13, 1991___________ Heppner 3 5 c__________ 8 P a g e s A wee bit O’ Ireland in March 14—17 in Heppner Photo by Joyce Hughes L-R: Janell Healy, Sara Eckman and Annie Hisler are all dressed ready for St. Patrick’s weekend THURSDAY, MARCH 14 • Arrival of ST. PATRICK’S TRADITIONAL MUSICIANS, SINGERS & DANCERS from County Cork, Ireland. • Welcome poduck with host families. • DANCE W ORKSHOP for all ages and skill levels to learn variety of dances. Observers are welcome. 7 p.m. Grade School Multipurpose room. FRIDAY, MARCH 15 • Visitors from Ireland visit schools to share culture and talent. • M RS. O ’LEARY’S STEW FEED at St. Patrick’s Senior Center, 5 to 7 p.m. Prepared by Methodist Church members. • O ’RIEHLY ROLLER SKATING at the Mor row County Fairgrounds, 6 to 8 and 8:15 to 10:15 p.m. • ST. PATRICK’S TRADITIONAL MUSI CIANS, SINGERS & DANCERS present a celli/concert at 7:15 p.m. at the Junior High Gym. $4 for adults. S2 for children 12 and under. SATURDAY, MARCH 16 • Breakfast at Fairgrounds by O’Senior Center. 6:30 to 10 a.m. • SHEEP DOG TRIALS all day at Fairgrounds. • SHUTTLE SERVICE in front of 1st Interstate. • LAMB COOK-OFF at Farley's, 8 to 11 a.m. • KUMA COFFEE HOUR, 10 a.m. at Elks In traduction of Irish family, history, and music by our local Irish and the County Cork Irish Ensemble. • Brunch at the ELKS, 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Open to the public. • O ’S E N IO R C E N T E R taste o f Ireland Homemade potato soup and bread, 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Pie and coffee 3 to 4:30 p.m. Videos of Ireland for your relaxation. • PIONEER DEMONSTRATIONS at Morrow County Museum all day, to include weaving, spin ning and basket weaving. • WEE BIT O ’ » E L A N D CRAFT F A » , 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Main Street across from Elks. • M ORROW COUNTY ARTS & CRAFTS, all day, Farley Show Room. • Final performance by COUNTY CORK MUSI CIANS & DANCERS, Main Street, 12:30 p.m • BED RACE CALCUTTA, 1 p.m., Main Street. • IRISH PARADE, 1:30 p.m., Main Street. • ST. PATRICK’S ANNUAL AUCTION, 2 p.m. • BEER GARDEN and food concessions. • HOO P SHOOT AND YOUTH ACTIVITIES. 2 p.m. behind Senior Center. • BOSSY BINGO, 3 p.m. behind Les Schwab. Win $250! • SCOTCH DOUBLES at Heppner Bowl, noon, 2 and 4 p.m. • TOURS: Morrow County Courthouse, 3 to 6 p.m. • O ’DUCKY RACE, 4 p.m. at bridge in front of courthouse. (Adopt a duck early in the day to win $100, $75, or $50.) • O ’FARLEY SOCIAL HOUR, 4 to 5 p.m. Reminisce with old and new acquaintances. • O ’RIEHLY ROLLER SKATING, 2 to 4 and 5 to 7 p.m. at the Fairgrounds. • S T . PATRICK’S HAM DINNER, Catholic Church, 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. • WHAMMADIDDLE DINGBAT CONCERT, 7 p.m. at the Junior High Gym. For all ages, an experience you won't want to miss! • LADS AND LASSIES TEEN DANCE, Morrow County Fairgrounds, 9 p.m. • Dinner, dancing and live music at the ELKS. In a recent legislative discussion paper by Bruce Weber, professor of agricultural and resource economics, Brent Steel, assistant professor of political science, and Robert Mason, professor, survey research center at Oregon State University, an analysis was done of the 52 to 48 percent “ yes” vote on Measure #5. In that analysis they concluded that the ma jority of voters wanted lower, limited property taxes and were in favor of a replacement tax to support schools. “ The strength of support for a state replacement tax to fond schools suggests that most voters did not view their vote as a mandate for significant cuts in spending. Indeed, it is more consistent with the idea that voters were seeking a replace ment sales tax for schools than that they wanted the major spending cuts now being proposed in state and local governments,” they said. Whether or not this attitude exists in rural Eastern Oregon can be debated since by far the majority of Eastern Oregon counties defeated the measure rather soundly. Wasco and Jackson Counties were the lone two Eastern and Southern Oregon coun ties that gave a yea nod to Measure #5 with Morrow County having the highest “ no” vote percentage in the 36 counties of Oregon. Nevertheless, Measure #5 is with us by constitutional amendment and in the democratic society that governs the citizens of Oregon. Governing bodies must react to the provisions of the measure as being interpreted by the legislature. As far as the schools are concern ed, there is no doubt that there will be a transfer of authority and funding to the state over a five-year period of time required to bring current tax The Morrow County Medical Fund measure is a separate item on the mail-in-ballot being sent to all registered voters. Ballots are to be returned by Tuesday, March 26 at 8 p.m. The medical fund levy provides money for a First Response vehicle and equipment in Irrigon. The Umatilla ambulance service also receives financial assistance from the ftledical Fund to respond to the com munity in Irrigon. Boardman is provided with two ambulances, a building, equipment and is staffed by the Columbia River Volunteer EMT Association. The Boardman Health Care Center, previously known as the Boardman Clinic, is subsidized by the medical fond in a leasing agreement with Dr. Robert Boss, M .D., said Morrow County Health Administrator Ernest Wick. In the communities of lone and Lexington First Response vehicles and equipment are provided. A building is planned in lone to shelter the vehicle. In Heppner. the medical fund opciales a clinic staffed by Dr. Jeanne Berretta and Dr. Ed Berret- ta. Also in Heppner are the Pioneer Memorial Hospital/Nursing Home and two ambulances manned by the EMT Morrow County Volunteer Ambulance Association. “ The health delivery system in Morrow County is unique in that it encompasses a multitude of health care options,” said Wick. “ It in cludes first response to an accident or illness, ambulance transport, and hospitalization. Two clinics provide prevention and ongoing medical treatment close to home. For 32 elder county citizens, Pioneer Memorial Nursing Home is a perma nent home near family and friends. ” The medical fund operating budget is $4,407,272 with $474,645 coming from the tax payers. Seven percent of the levied amount is estimated to be not collectable by the on Valby Road 16 and a half miles out of lone on Gooseberry and Valby road, begins Sunday School at 8:15 a.m. and service of Holy commu nion at 9 a.m. Hope Lutheran church in Hepp ner. near the Willow Creek Dam, has Sunday School at 9:30 a.m. and a service of Holy Communion at 11 ctor, a steelhead fishing trip from Kel wayne Hague wood, a pair of Justin Roper boots from Gardner’s Mens Wear, two pieces of stained glass by Greg Sweek, a dining room set from Nonie McLaughlin Pointer, two lunches at Cousins Restaurant in The Dalles, a trip on a Columbia barge by Tidewater Barge, a 3 l/ i horsepower lawnmower from the Morrow County Grain Growers, stemwheeler tickets, two sets of two tickets for the Morrow County Rodeo by the Rodeo Committee and much more. Silent auction items include tools, mugs, a collection of sugars and creamers and paintings by Betty Brown, among other things. Art sale planned during St. Pat’s St. Patrick’s auction chairman Ann Spicer displays some of the items donated to the auction, which will be held in Heppner March 16 at 2 p.m. under the tent next to the St. Patrick's Senior Center. Spicer said that the auction items are “ the best we’ve ever had.” a.m. Pastor Hoobing will be preaching at both services on the theme. "The Power to Endure,” based on Hebrews 5:7-9. After a quick snack at the lamb barbecue, Pastor Hoobing invites everyone to join or follow him to Condon for an afternoon service at 2 p.m. county. For previous two years the medical fond has basically remain ed the same amount-$425,000. This year's levy is increased by $51.000 because of reduced reimbursement (Medicare. Medicaid, Workman’s C om pensation,) capital im provements and support service for the county, Wick said. During the past five years. St. An thony H ospital has provided management and special support ser vice for the entire county. Since December 1, 1990 when the management contract was ter minated, special support services have been provided on a cost basis from St. Anthony. Administration is now budgeted through the county medical fund. “ With many rural health delivery systems struggling under the pressure of reduced reimbursement, the Morrow County Health Delivery System remains strong because of resident participation and support," Wick added. Over 139 items donated for annual auction SUNDAY, MARCH 17 • BREAKFAST, Morrow County Fairgrounds, by the O'golfers of Willow Creek Country Club, 6 to 10 a.m. • CHURCH of your choice. Visitors welcome. • SHEEP DOG TRIALS all day • WEE BIT O ’ IRELAND CRAFT F A » , Main Street, noon to 3 p.m. • SCOTCH DOUBLES at the Heppner Bowl, 11 a.m. and l p.m. • LAMB BASQUE BARBEQUE, noon to 2 p.m., with ENTERTAINMENT by South Morrow County Community Band: Morrow County Fairgrounds. m illion. W asco C ounty at $650,000. Union County $368,000, Umatilla County at $237,000 and Morrow County at $86,000. These taxing districts provide for roads, police, parks, planning, health ser vices along with government ser vices as mandated by Oregon law. Along with reduced revenue will inevitably come reduced services as provided by local governments and taxing districts. Whether this will be acceptable to the public remains to be seen. Some govemements such as cities have elected to raise revenue by user fees tied to services. Others have tied a tax to such services such as found in motel and public response agencies. Morrow County governmental departments and agencies requiring tax dollars will be expected to absorb the projected $86,000 shortfall in tax revenue. This means that a percen tage of each department’s budget will receive an additional cut beyond what was approved by the budget committee. This y ear's Morrow County Special Operating levy is $21,669 less than the levy approved by the voters for the fiscal year 1990-91. This is the third year that this levy has been reduced from the previous year. This trend of lower tax levies in Morrow County for one-year special operating funds reflects the sentiment of Oregon tax payers. In the poll conducted by OSU they found that in 1990, 58 percent of the taxpayers felt that local property taxes were the least fair, 15 percent felt that the federal income tax was unfair, 13 percent said the state sales tax was unfair, five percent felt that a state income tax was unfair and 10 percent didn’t know. Medical fund to levy $474,645 Hope-Valby invite ali to church during St. Pat’s The Irish are coming. The Irish are coming. Yes, the Irish are com ing to the Heppner area for the an nual St. Patrick's Day celebration The congregations of Hope in Hepp ner and Valby of lone, invite the Irish (real and imaginary) to worship services on Sunday, March 17. Valby Lutheran Church, located rates down from the existing range of approximately $12/1000 to $5/1000 of assessed value. The measure requires the state to pick up the tab for losses to Oregon schools as a result of the measure. These losses in year five could amount to at least $1.5 billions of dollars, substantially more than can logically be raised by existing tax ing methods, that is the state income tax. Thus there would need to be an additional m ethod o f raising revenues to meet the requirement of funding schools by the general fond of the state government. Worries by local school districts are that funding by the state would not necessarily be returned to each district in proportion to the amount lost. In addition there is no guarantee that the state will continue to provide the “ basic school support fund” at the current level. This currently amounts to approximately 30 percent of the state’s school operating expen ditures and takes about 26 percent of the state general fund. The third worry for local school districts is that there is no guarantee that after the fifth year, the state is required to fund the schools of the state, because the schools will then be capped at ’5/1000 property valua tion and tax revenue reduced by 67 percent there will be little chance for local districts to fund schools under current Measure 5 legislation. What is the impact on local government? Measure #5 will limit property taxes on all other taxing districts and governments to $10 per $1000 beginning in 1991-92 and it provides no replacement revenue. Hardest hit will be Multnomah County with a $23.7 million reduction. Other ex amples are Marion with $2.6 A / One hundred thirty-nine items have been donated, in addition to many things earmarked for the silent auction table. Proceeds from the auction fund the St. Patrick’s Celebration for the next year This year’s auction will feature leatherwork by Mike and Kay Pro The Morrow County Creative Arts and Crafts Club has planned a sale on Saturday, March 16 from 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m at Farley's showroom in Heppner. The sale will feature paintings. Chinese paintings, jewelry, wood carvings, bronze sculpture and craft items. Cookies and coffee will be served See the BEO Lepreclowns in the parade Saturday. m astern Oregon Arlington • Heppner • lone ** "Your Independent Home Onmed Bank ' F.D.I.C.
