November 2022 THE CHARBONNEAU VILLAGER 23
County group hopes to put tolling on ballot in 2024
Vote Before Tolls Committee says fee should not be enacted without voter approval
BY HOLLY BARTHOLOMEW PAMPLIN MEDIA GROUP
PMG PHOTO : HOLLY BARTHOLOMEW
Clackamas County residents gathered at the Arch Bridge Thursday , Oct . 14 , to discuss the Vote Before Tolls initiative .
A group of Clackamas County residents seeks to give Oregon residents a say in whether to toll state highways . The group , Vote Before Tolls Committee , is spearheaded by West Linn resident Dean Suhr and has received state approval to begin signature gathering to place an initiative on the 2024 ballot — just before tolls are supposed to go in place on I-205 .
The Oregon Department of Transportation currently plans to begin tolling the seven-mile stretch of I-205 between Stafford Road and the Abernethy Bridge in late 2024 .
If the citizen group obtains the 200,000 signatures necessary to put the measure before Oregon voters , and the measure is successful , the plan would amend the state ’ s constitution ensuring voter approval before road tolls are enacted .
“ The toll proposed by the public body is referred for approval or rejection to the electors of each county in this state that has a county border within a 15-mile radius of any section of highway proposed to be tolled ,” the amendment would state .
Vote Before Tolls met at the West Linn- Oregon City Arch Bridge Thursday , Oct . 13 , to announce it had received approval to begin collecting signatures .
“ This initiative does not stop tolls . It requires a vote before tolls . It requires that ODOT justify what they do with the tolls , how much it will cost , will it sunset and what are the funds going to be used for ?” Suhr said at the gathering . “ They ’ re going to have to be transparent , and they ’ re going to have to engage us . I might vote for a toll if it ’ s fair and equitable and everyone is paying it , not just me and my neighbors .”
According to documents from the Oregon Secretary of State ’ s website , the Oregon Attorney General ’ s office sent the approved ballot title to the state ’ s elections division on Sept . 21 . To get to this stage , the committee first had to gather 1,000 signatures .
Suhr said the vast majority of people they approached for signatures overwhelmingly supported a vote-before-toll requirement .
Suhr and Oregon City resident Lorely Miller formed the group and began working on the petition out of concern over the Oregon Department of Transportation ’ s plans for tolling I-205 and I-5 .
“ The current tolling proposals are severely flawed ,” Suhr said . “ We ’ ve asked ODOT many questions about tolling without adequate response , and now need to force ODOT and the state Legislature to not only listen , but to interact with taxpayers .”
A similar legislative bill to require a vote on any tolling in Oregon was introduced by Sen . Bill Kennemer in the 2022 session of the Oregon Legislature , but the chair of the Transportation Committee refused to move the bill forward . It is anticipated Kennemer or other Clackamas County legislators will introduce a similar bill in next year ’ s legislative session , which , if passed , would make the initiative unnecessary .
Kennemer was in attendance at the Arch Bridge rally that had about 50 participants .
“ Our enthusiasm was matched by most of the motorists with horn honks , waves of support and thumbs up . And the big trucks tooting their mighty horns stirred everyone ’ s enthusiasm ,” Kennemer said .
Find more information about the Vote Before Tolls Committee at / votebeforetolls . org / and find information on the petition status / sos . oregon . gov / elections / Pages / 2024-irr . aspx .
The Wilsonville Garden Club Swag Sale Is Back !!
The Wilsonville Library will host the Garden Clubs annual holiday decoration and swag sale
Saturday , December 3rd from 9am-2pm ! Wilsonville Library , 8200 SW Wilsonville Road
The Garden Club is offering beautiful swags and decorations made by club members using freshly gathered greens and a variety of decorations .
Festive swags , centerpieces and decor are available for purchase to brighten the holidays in your home .
Welcome the holiday season with one of these beautiful decorations for your home or give one as a gift while helping provide educational opportunities in our community .
Wilsonville Garden Club is tax exempt and a member of the Oregon State Federation of Garden Clubs .
For more information , call Lauren Dixon at 602-316-2402 , or Darcy Starr at 415-717-6078 .