The Oregon Senate passed a transportation funding package to prevent layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The package will generate $4.3 billion over a decade through increased gas taxes, vehicle fees, and a new charge for electric vehicles.
The bill passed without any Republican support, and some GOP lawmakers may seek a voter referendum on the tax increases.
The Oregon Senate passed a transportation funding package Sept. 29 that is expected to raise $4.3 billion over the next decade and will avert layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation.
The package was approved a month after lawmakers began the special session to consider Gov. Tina Kotek’s proposal. The session was delayed twice to allow Sen. Chris Gorsek, D-Gresham, to recover from back surgery complications.
The transportation package passed in the House on Sept. 1.
A new charge for electric vehicles, bumps to the payroll tax, vehicle registration and title fees and an extra six cents per gallon on gas are expected to bring in $4.3 billion over the next decade.
That revenue will go toward funding transportation throughout the state and prevent nearly 500 layoffs at the Oregon Department of Transportation.
It’s a far cry from Democrats’ initial proposal, which would have brought in $11.7 billion over the next 10 years but fell apart at the end of the session in June.
While several Democrats criticized the bill for not doing enough, the caucus unanimously voted in favor of the proposal. Both bills passed with an 18-11 vote, the exact number of