A6 • HERMISTONHERALD.COM
WEDNESDAY, APRIL 25, 2018
ELECTIONS
FAQ
LETTERS
What voters need to know about
OSU Extension Service District
By PHIL WRIGHT
STAFF WRITER
Umatilla and Mor-
row County voters in the
May election will decide
whether to add two new tax
districts to fund staff and
operations for the Oregon
State University Extension
Service. Both counties have
their own ballot measures
that each propose a prop-
erty tax rate of 33 cents per
$1,000 of assessed value.
Residents are asking
questions about what this
will mean. Pendleton City
Council candidates even
had to field a question
about the Extension Ser-
vice district at Thursday
night’s forum.
Here are some of the
most frequently asked
questions:
How much will the tax
bring in?
The tax would raise
approximately $1.7 million
in Umatilla County and
about $700,000 in Morrow
County.
It would pay about 25
percent of what the Exten-
sion Service needs to oper-
ate. Regional administra-
tor Mary Corp said that is
needed to help offset state
funding cuts and meet a
mandate to find local reve-
nue to fill the gap. Over the
years, she said, the Exten-
sion Service has relied on
multiple methods to meet
that requirement, but none
have been stable and sus-
tainable. The new tax
would fix that, she said.
Who collects that tax
revenue and where does
it go?
The county collects the
revenue, and the funds stay
there. Oregon budget law
mandates the district’s tax
revenue would get its own
fund and not go into the
county general fund.
Corp also said the bud-
gets from the two counties
would remain separate “all
the way until paying the
bills.”
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 reve-
STAFF PHOTO BY E.J. HARRIS
Caleb Glenn, a 4-H member from Hermiston, washes the
tail of his steer during the 2017 Umatilla County Fair.
nue to expand 4-H educa-
tion by adding a new edu-
cational 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 person-
nel stated their plans are
more about staffing sup-
port 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?
Hermiston is under
tax compression, mean-
ing property owners will
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.
The tax rates are avail-
able at www.co.umatilla.
or.us/at/index.html.
Who would oversee the
new district?
Umatilla County coun-
sel Doug Olsen said the
county board of commis-
sioners would be in charge
because the district would
be a county service district,
the only one in the county.
Likewise, Morrow Coun-
ty’s board would oversee
the district there.
County service districts
are not the same as spe-
cial districts, such as fire
protection or water dis-
tricts, which have their own
boards of directors.
County
commission-
ers also would appoint a
budget committee for the
district. Corp said Ore-
gon law specifies the bud-
get committee would have
to consist of the three
county
commissioners
and three non-board mem-
bers. Again, one for Uma-
tilla County and another for
Morrow County.
Umatilla County Com-
missioner 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.
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 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 high-
est rate among the districts.
Will the counties con-
tinue to fund the district
even if the taxes pass?
Yes, in the short term.
Olsen said should the dis-
tricts pass, the tax collec-
tion deadline is April 30,
so revenues would not be
available until 2019. Uma-
tilla County is giving about
$397,000 for fiscal year
2018-19, and Morrow
County also plans to pro-
vide funds. Morrow County
for fiscal year 2017-18 gave
about $167,000.
How long the counties
would provide the fiscal
support remains a question.
Givens a
hard-working
commissioner
is working. Let’s re-elect
Larry Givens!
I support Larry Givens
in his race for Umatilla
County Commissioner.
Although I do not know
his opponent, I just can’t
see the case for making a
change. Larry has been a
conscientious and hard-
working commissioner, and
has given of his time and
energy over and over again
on behalf of the citizens of
this county.
As a regular exhibitor at
the Umatilla County Fair, I
appreciate his efforts to get
the fair up and running at
its new location on Airport
Road. Larry knew that we
long ago had outgrown the
old fairgrounds in town, and
he worked with the City
of Hermiston to develop
the new fairgrounds out by
the airport into a first-class
facility. Last year’s fair, the
first in the new location,
was a great success.
Whenever you go
to a farm-related event,
you will see Larry there.
Whenever you have a
problem involving county
government, you can count
on Larry to roll up his
sleeves and try to address
it. That’s why I think we
should keep him in place,
working for us in Umatilla
County. Re-elect Larry
Givens as our county
commissioner!
Numbers aren’t
everything in
judge’s race
Eye Health & Vision Care
Robert D. Rolen , O.D., LLC
Optometric Physician
115 W. Hermiston Ave. Suite 130
541-567-1837
FAMILY DENTISTRY
I urge the voters of
Umatilla County to re-elect
Larry Givens as our county
commissioner. He has been
a hard-working, hands-on
commissioner who has
devoted countless hours to
help move Umatilla County
forward.
Larry is a life-long
resident of this county. His
experience as a teacher,
school administrator and
rancher, along with his
proven ability to get things
done, have served us well.
The thing that impresses me
the most about Larry is that
he actually listens to people
in a sincere way, identifies
a problem and then sets out
to find the best way to solve
it, whether it is land use,
economic development or a
budget issue.
I see no reason to
change, just for the sake
of change. Let’s keep what
MENTAL HEALTH
LET US BE THE ONE THAT HELPS!
• Adult, Child and Family Therapy
• Psychiatric Evaluation and Treatment
• Mental Health and Crisis Services
• Confidential and Professional Care
LIFEWAYS PENDLETON Crisis Phone: LIFEWAYS HERMISTON
331 SE 2nd St.,
595 NW 11th St.,
866-343-4473
Pendleton, OR 97801
Hermiston, OR 97838
Office: 541-276-6207 WWW . LIFEWAYS . ORG Office: 541-567-2536
PEDIATRIC DENTISTRY
1060 W. Elm, Suite #115,
Hermiston, OR
Family Dentistry
(across from Good Shepherd Medical Center)
~ N ew Patients Welcome~
Office Hours: Mon-Fri 8am-4pm
www.apd4kidz.com
Ryan M. Wieseler, D.D.S .
COUNSELING
HERMISTON FAMILY MEDICINE &
URGENT CARE
Sports & Dot Physicals • Minor Injuries • Family Care • Minor Surgeries
We accept Medicare & some Advantage Medicare plans
NO APPOINTMENT NECESSARY
HOURS: Mon.-Sat.
7:30am-7:00pm
541-567-1137
KITTEE CUSTER
MILTON-FREEWATER
WORSHIP
COMMUNITY
Re-elect Givens
as county
commissioner
Call Today!
URGENT AND FAMILY CARE
I’ve heard that one of
the judicial candidates
for Umatilla and Morrow
Counties has suggested that
he is better qualified to be
judge because of the large
number of court appearances
he’s made in the last year or
so. I wouldn’t attribute any
level of competence to just
coming to court over and
over again.
I’ve been practicing law
in Eastern Oregon for 18
years now. Coming to court
repeatedly can mean that
you haven’t done the job
right, you aren’t prepared,
or you weren’t thorough in
investigating your client’s
circumstances. Appearing
repeatedly on the same case
certainly increases your
“appearance” count, but the
only thing it really suggests
is that the client is incurring
a lot of attorney fees.
HERMISTON
541-289-5433
541-567-8161
995 W. Orchard Ave., Hermiston
PENDLETON
MARIANNE SMELSER
MEDICAL
DIRECTORY
VISION CARE
BILL HAMPTON
Quantity of appearances
is no indication of quality
of representation or of
knowledge. Would you go
back to the same doctor
or mechanic or plumber if
you never got well, or your
car or plumbing continued
to fail? Or perhaps a large
number of appearances
simply indicates that a
lawyer has a steep learning
curve, something I have
personally observed in a
few cases. It sure doesn’t
bode well for a client that
a lawyer needs so many
hearings to get the job done.
Do not be influenced
by such silly, meaningless
statistics. True
professionalism isn’t
measured by how many
times you charge your client
for appearing in court.
Rob Collins is superbly
qualified to be your next
circuit court judge. He is a
lawyer’s lawyer, recognized
and respected by colleagues
who hire him for their own
personal cases. Join me in
voting for Rob Collins for
Circuit Court Judge.
236 E. Newport, Hermiston
(across from U.S. Bank)
To advertise in the Medical Directory,
please call: Jeanne at 541-564-4531
or Audra at 541-564-4538
LANDMARK BAPTIST CHURCH
125 E. Beech Ave. • 567-3232
Pastor David Dever
Sun. Bible Classes...................10:00am
Sun. Worship Service..............11:00am
Sun. Evening Worship..............6:00pm
Wed. Prayer & Bible Study......6:00pm
www.hermistonlmbc.com
First Christian
Church
“Proclaiming the Message of
Hope, Living the Gospel of Love”
Sunday School 9:15am
Worship Gathering 10:30 am
Children’s Church 10:30 am
567-3013
775 W. Highland Ave., Hermiston
The Full Gospel
Home Church
235 SW 3rd
Phone 567-7678
Rev. Ed Baker - Rev. Nina Baker
Sunday:
Sunday School........10:00 am
Worship...................11:00 am
Evening Service........7:00 pm
Wednesday Service..7:00 pm
“Casting all your care upon him;
for he careth for you.”
1 Pet. 5:7
St. Johns
Episcopal Church
Join Us
On Our Journey
With Jesus.
Scripture, Tradition and Reason
Family service 9am Sunday
N.E. Gladys Ave & 7th, Hermiston
t. PH: 567-6672
We are an all inclusive Church
who welcomes all.
Our Lady of Angels
Catholic Church
565 W. HERMISTON AVE.
DAILY MASS: Monday-Friday
...............................English 7:00 am
Thursday...............Spanish 6:00 pm
SATURDAY:.........English 5:00 pm
...............................Spanish 7:00 pm
SUNDAY:..............English 9:00 am
..........................Bilingual 11:00 am
..............................Spanish 1:00 pm
Offi ce..............................567-5812
Grace Baptist Church
555 SW 11th, Hermiston
567-9497
Nursery provided for all services
Sunday School - 9:30 AM
Worship - 10:45 AM
6:00 PM
Wed Prayer & Worship - 7:00 PM
“Proclaiming God’s word,
growing in God’s grace”
1520 W ORCHARD AVE
Sunday Worship Service
10:30 am Classes for Kids @ 9:15 am
SEEKING JESUS, SHARING LIFE,
SERVING PEOPLE
www.hermistonnazarene.org
NEW BEGINNINGS
CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP
Worship Service 10:30 AM
Sunday School 9:00 AM
Pastor J.C. Barnett
Children’s Church &
Nursery Available
700 West Orchard Avenue
P.O. Box 933
Hermiston, Oregon
541-567-8441
First United
Methodist
Church
Hermiston
191 E. Gladys Ave , Hermiston OR
Sunday Worship 11am • 541-567-3002
Nursery available Check us out on Face Book
Worship Livestream at herfumc.com
Open Hearts, Open Minds, Open Doors
Rev. Dr. Jim Pierce, pastor
Seventh-day
Adventist Church
Saturdays
Sabbath School........9:30 a.m.
Worship Service......11:00 a.m.
English & Spanish Services
567-8241
855 W. Highland • Hermiston
To share your
worship times call
541-278-2678