A D V E R T I S E M E N T
A D V E R T I S E M E N T
ADVERTISEMENTS
We understand the urgent need to replace the Sellwood Bridge in Portland, but the $19 annual vehicle registration fee recently adopted by Multnomah County violates some basic principles of taxation.
The fee will be assessed countywide, but the primary beneficiaries will be those motorists who use the bridge on a regular basis. We wouldn’t object to such a fee if its proceeds could help fund projects throughout the county. Nor would such a fee be out of place if it could be assessed based on proximity to the bridge.
But neither of those possibilities are permitted under state law, which means that residents of Corbett, to take just one example, will be assessed a direct fee for the next 20 years that will be used solely for the purpose of replacing a bridge that they may never use.
What’s more, it’s an established fact that the majority of travelers who cross the Sellwood Bridge are actually commuters from Clackamas County. That county also is considering implementing a local registration fee to help pay for a new bridge, but the amount would be less than what Multnomah County is assessing.
The end result of all this is that a resident of Milwaukie who uses the bridge twice daily will pay less than someone in Gresham who never has a reason to cross what is really an out-of-the-way span.
The need to replace this bridge – which scores a lowly 2 on a structural sufficiency scale of 100 – is well-established. And the Sellwood Bridge is just one of many bridges in Multnomah County that will need expensive renovations or replacement in the next couple decades.
On the larger bridge issue, we agree with county Chairman Ted Wheeler that a regional bridge authority should be formed to manage and fund all the county-owned Willamette River bridges – which collectively are a regional asset.
But on the specific local-funding mechanism for the Sellwood Bridge project, residents of East Multnomah County should insist that their legislators rethink the fairness of assessing a universal fee for such a narrow purpose. State laws should be amended to allow county registration fees to be scaled geographically, so that those who receive the greatest benefit also pay a higher price.
Something to rememeber: The bridge is located in Multnomah county, the bridge is operated and 'maintained" by the county. If you live in the country, whether or not you like it, you are obligated to assist with whatever it is needs to be done in the country whether you live in Gresham or in Downtown Portland. The fact is, it's in the county, you're in the country. It's a done deal.
With regard's to Milwaukie residents, they are in Clackamas County. Many forget they are paying taxes with its own country. Milwaukie residents are NOT responsible for the Sellwood Bridge.
And, something to note - I am a Gresham resident and I DO use the bridge at least once or twice a month. To say Gresham resident's don't use the span is NOT an accurate statement.
While I do not support the tax, it's part of my duty as a resident in this county regardless of my actual location.
Get over it!
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 12:12 AM
Reportedly up to 75% of the usage is Clackamas County residents. Multnomah County should shut down the bridge & let Clackamas County build one as it's on the Clackamas/Multnomah border. As a Multnomah County resident I would be fine with paying the $5 registration fee that Clackamas County is currently proposing for their residents. The other option would be to make it a toll bridge.
We need to start assessing fees based on usage. I live in East Gresham & have 3 foreclosures within 2 blocks of me. There's a couple down the street on Social Security with 1 older car who recently had a garage sale to try to make ends meet. $19 is alot to lower income people who are not making it as it is. The Sellwood bridge accomodates many people from Lake Oswego, West Linn, the west side which statistically has a higher income level than Gresham for example or North Portland.
There needs to be a more equitable way of dealing with government fees especially for lower income people.
Ted Wheeler has made alot of good decisions & is generally doing a very good job. But he & the county commissioners blew it on this one.
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Remember folks; Diane McKeel really appreciated your vote last November! In 3 years when she is up for reelection, you will only have 17 more years to pay!
(email verified)
Sat, Oct 31, 2009 at 07:50 PM
Remember folks... Diane McKeel has also gotten the East County Courts, a Troutdale Library and saved vital services the Multnomah County Sheriffs office provides for East County. These are services that all of the County residents are paying for. How often do you think people in Sellwood are going to use the court house in Rockwood???
(email verified)
Sun, Nov 01, 2009 at 09:17 AM
Remember folks... Diane McKeel has also gotten the East County Courts, a Troutdale Library and saved vital services the Multnomah County Sheriffs office provides for East County. These are services that all of the County residents are paying for. How often do you think people in Sellwood are going to use the court house in Rockwood???
(email verified)
Sun, Nov 01, 2009 at 09:19 AM
Sellwood has close proximity access to downtown court systems that are extremely elaborate & have been in place for years. Where's our east county bridge equivalent? Exactly what minuscule percentage of the bridge cost estimate is the courthouse price tag?
Please don't try to give McKeel credit for single-handedly creating an east county utopia in 10 months. I aint buying it! The proposed court facility is not built yet & it's still scaled way back from what's needed. The Sellwood bridge COULD be repaired at a much lower cost, instead of being completely reconstructed. "They" get the ultimate package while we get scraps.
Politicians are elected to represent their constituents. All of east county got the shaft on this deal.
(email verified)
Sun, Nov 01, 2009 at 12:06 PM
How about this? When we Mult. Co. residents pay the extra $, we get a sticker that lets us go over the bridge in the fast lane. All others go in the slow lane and pay a toll. Surely, when they build a new one, it is not gonna be another two-laner...
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
(email verified)
Sun, Nov 01, 2009 at 12:54 PM
Yes, "Centennial Neighbor", you are indeed dreaming.
The plan is for a mere 2 lanes on the new Sellwood bridge. How's that for forward thinking? Isn't the current 223rd/1-84 underpass the largest county road project at this time? The county had to borrow for it and in the past, sidewalks weren't even planned into it's construction. Now in 2009, it finally gets what it should have had in the beginning. How many years before planners decide the Sellwood should have been 4 lanes wide this time around?
Maybe someone should ask for an article on the next new bridge in the downtown area that omits cars completely & is ONLY for alternative transportation. What a crazy, mixed up bunch of social planners!
(email verified)
Sun, Nov 01, 2009 at 09:54 PM
While it is true that many people that use the Sellwood Bridge live in Clackamas County, it is also true that a majority of trips begin or end in Multnomah County. The bridge is just a few blocks north of the Clackamas County line. The data on who uses the bridge shows that it serves a regional need.
(email verified)
Mon, Nov 02, 2009 at 11:20 AM
Maybe the Milwaukie residents who get to enjoy the bridge that I, from Gresham never use but will pay for would like to pay for my future chicken permit?
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 03, 2009 at 07:30 PM
Clever thinking Nancy!
Clackamas county users can pay $38 per registration & you can mumble possibilities of maybe throwing in $5 sometime in the future. Meanwhile you get the eggs & they don't.
... Oh wait! Traver gets one or two a month. He can pick them up right after crossing the bridge to come back to the east side.
(email verified)
Tue, Nov 03, 2009 at 11:13 PM
Find a paper
Enter a street name
or a 5 digit zip code
Browse archive
The Gresham Outlook
Opinion feed
Facebook
Digg
Del.icio.us
Newsvine
Stumbleupon
Reddit
Re: New vehicle fee needs to be fair
Couldn't have said it better myself.
"Greshamgal"
(email verified)
Fri, Oct 30, 2009 at 08:16 PM