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The INDEPENDENT, January 21, 2010
The
INDEPENDENT
Published on the first and third Thursdays of each month by
The Independent, LLC, 725 Bridge St., Vernonia, OR 97064.
Phone/Fax: 503-429-9410.
Publisher Clark McGaugh, clark@the-independent.net
Editor Rebecca McGaugh, rebecca@the-independent.net
Mentor Noni Andersen
Printed on recycled paper with vegetable based dyes
Opinion
Council does right thing
Vernonia, like Banks, and many other communities, has a
participatory style of government. Councilors are elected,
but elected from a list of people who volunteered to serve.
Commissioners and committee members are all volunteers.
This system works well when everyone participates, and
participate they did at the Vernonia City Council public hear-
ing on an updated sign ordinance, during the council meet-
ing on January 19. About 25 business owners showed up
and asked council not to vote on the sign ordinance, but
rather to send it back to the Planning Commission so the
community could have more input.
There had already been one public hearing, before the
Planning Commission. Not one community member was
there. Since there was no public participation, the Planning
Commission had no new or different information to use, nor
any reason to believe that the ordinance they put together,
using the one existing from 2004, wasn’t just fine. Imagine
the surprise of the Planning Commissioner and Planning Di-
rector when so many showed up at council and every com-
ment was opposed to the ordinance as written.
A bit of mud then got slung around. Audience said the City
should do more to notify community. City (councilors and
commission members) said the community has a responsi-
bility to figure out what’s going on and that the city does a
fine job of notification – on the website, posted at City Hall,
notices in the water bill, etc. Audience said they are trying to
run businesses and don’t have time to track information
down; they rent so don’t see water bills; that hearings aren’t
on nights that work. Neither side is wrong and both sides
have valid concerns. We’d all get a better product from the
city if we helped them know what we want and need, by par-
ticipating. The city could probably find more ways to help cit-
izens participate.
The good news is – the members of the council agreed to
hold the public hearing open so the community can work
with the commission to revise the ordinance to get a product
that works better for both city and citizens. By the way, this
ordinance is not just about downtown, it applies to all Ver-
nonia.
City Council: Thanks for listening, thanks for making this
an opportunity for more citizen participation.
Stress becoming normal?
The economy is in the dumps, and stress levels are on
the rise. No jobs, housing foreclosures all around, water
shutoff and electric shutoff numbers at all-time highs. Not
feeling stress, great. But for those who are feeling the
stress, consider talking to someone. Even a friend can lis-
ten, but there are hotline numbers on page 8, if needed.
Out of My Mind…
by Noni Andersen
The Yes/No fight over
Ballot Measures 66 and
67 has been unusual be-
cause the arguments
aren’t lost among a myriad
of ballot decisions, as of-
ten happens during a
General Election, so cam-
paigning has been more
focused.
Typical of political bat-
tles, both sides have relied on emotional argu-
ments and on half-truths that omit the inconven-
ient halves. But opponents’ claim that increased
taxes are needed because of increased state
spending, including salary increases is astound-
ing when most state employees are taking 15 un-
paid “furlough” days. Sure, losing nearly three
weeks pay is far better than losing your job, but
calling that a pay increase is, shall we say, less
than honest.
Additionally, the format used for state (and lo-
cal) government budgets can create the appear-
ance of increased spending when it doesn’t ex-
ist. For instance, when Oregon anticipates the
receipt of Federal funds, that anticipated amount
must be included in the budget, whether or not it
is actually received. Local governments use the
same procedure when they apply for a grant.
The current state budget includes anticipated
federal stimulus funds which, when added to all
other state funds, make it look as though the
state has increased spending. But anticipated
revenues and actual revenues are not always
equal. Oregon relies heavily on a state income
tax, so the unemployment caused by this reces-
sion has reduced General Fund revenues that
would be used for state services.
The state’s discretionary funds are mostly in
the General Fund and are used primarily for ed-
ucation, health and human services, and public
safety. Other funds have mostly dedicated uses,
meaning they must be used for specific purpos-
es. Fuel taxes, for example, must be used for
specific transportation-related costs such as
road and bridge construction and repair.
When the budget is developed, all potential
revenues are included, and the expense side of
the budget shows how they will be used. If the
funds don’t arrive, the services or projects aren’t
funded. Federal funds that pay part of the state’s
Medicaid costs will decline, as well, if less state
money is spent for that purpose. So, a larger to-
tal budget isn’t always what it seems to be.
In the early 1980s, a much larger tax increase
protected services during a much milder reces-
sion. Are Measures 66 and 67 job killing? Over
the years, Oregon’s businesses have been pro-
tected, too, to the point that business taxes are
third lowest in the nation. If these measures
pass, they will become fifth lowest in the nation!
The increases in Measures 66 and 67, will not
affect most Oregonians, but we will all be affect-
ed by less spending on education. More job loss-
es in education will mean fewer educational op-
portunities for youth and more dropouts. Busi-
nesses say they want educated employees. Let’s
help provide them by voting yes on 66 and 67.