Gov. Tina Kotek warned Monday she’s considering vetoing about $16 million in funding for infrastructure and development projects approved by the Legislature.
Kotek’s announcement, required by the state constitution, doesn’t guarantee she’ll veto the spending. Instead, she wants more information before making a final decision by April 17.
Seven of the projects Kotek is considering for a line-item veto are in Senate Bill 1530, one component of a $376 million housing package. Kotek said the bill was meant to support “shovel-ready” projects and she needed more evidence that seven infrastructure projects totaling $14 million will actually result in new homes being built soon.
“Before making final decisions, I am giving cities and districts the opportunity to provide more information to my office to confirm whether these funding allocations will result in the production of new housing within an acceptable timeline,” Kotek said in a statement. “This is part of my ongoing commitment to transparency, accountability, and outcomes with public funds, including direct appropriations.”
Those projects are:
- $3 million for the Oak Lodge Water Services Authority in northwest Clackamas County for wastewater treatment facility upgrades;
- $3 million for the city of Siletz to upgrade its wastewater treatment plant;
- $3 million to the Tualatin Valley Water District to upgrade a pump station on SW 189th Avenue in Beaverton;
- $1.5 million to the city of Butte Falls for wastewater treatment plant and lift station upgrades;
- $1.5 million to the city of Shady Cove to develop its city drinking water system;
- $1 million to the city of Creswell for wastewater treatment facility upgrades and connections to a regional treatment facility;
- $1 million to the city of Gold Hill to replace a water distribution main line and upgrade water treatment facilities.
She’s also considering vetoing a $2 million appropriation in Senate Bill 5701 for Portland’s Old Town Association, which wanted seed money for a footwear and apparel manufacturing facility. Portland, the home of Nike and Adidas North America, has long been a hub for shoe design, but manufacturing mostly takes place in southeast Asia.
“I appreciate the intent of this project to help revitalize the Old Town neighborhood in downtown Portland,” Kotek said. “My office is awaiting more information from the development group about the viability of financing for the entire project before I make my decision.”
Kotek isn’t considering vetoes of any other bills or funding, a spokeswoman confirmed.
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Julia Shumway is deputy editor of Oregon Capital Chronicle and has reported on government and politics in Iowa and Nebraska, spent time at the Bend Bulletin and most recently was a legislative reporter for the Arizona Capitol Times in Phoenix. An award-winning journalist, Julia most recently reported on the tangled efforts to audit the presidential results in Arizona.
