Salem Mayor Julie Hoy sent a personal letter opposing two state transportation funding bills, contradicting a city council letter of support she had previously signed.
Fellow council members criticized the mayor for using city letterhead for her personal position, arguing it created a perception of speaking for the city.
The controversial bills aim to fund Oregon’s transportation system by raising the gas tax and other vehicle-related fees.
Salem Mayor Julie Hoy penned a letter on Sept. 20 to an Oregon Legislature committee strongly opposing two House bills tied to transportation funding.
The move contradicted a letter on behalf of Salem City Council supporting the bills signed by Hoy and drew criticism from her peers on council during the Sept. 22 meeting.
In her letter to the members of the Joint Interim Committee on Transportation Funding, Hoy said she was out of town for a funeral when councilors on the Legislative Committee voted to send a letter supporting the transportation funding package.
She said she signed it upon her return as part of the city’s standard legislative process.