Transient Lodging Tax Data Updated on LOC-Data The League has updated its transient lodging tax (TLT) data using the latest report from Dean Runyan Associates, the research firm contracted by the state to compile this information. The dataset includes 2015 city tax rates and revenue receipts. Please note: any customized filters or visualizations created with the previous TLT dataset are no longer available. These would have to be recreated by the user. To view LOC’s Lodging Tax Data, click here. https://data.orcities.org/City-Financial-Data/Transient-Lodging-Tax-Revenues/xvs2-d76x Contact: Paul Aljets, Research Coordinator - paljets@orcities.org October 11, 2016 Contact: Courtney Warner Crowell, 971-712-6503, courtney.w.crowell@state.or.us OHA releases 2017 rates for Oregon’s coordinated care organizations Today the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) released the 2017 capitation rates for Oregon’s coordinated care organizations (CCOs). The CCOs contract with the state of Oregon to manage and deliver health care to Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan (OHP), the state’s Medicaid insurance program. OHA pays these capitation rates to CCOs on a monthly basis to cover OHP members for physical, behavioral and oral health services. “Oregon has made a commitment to Oregonians and the federal government to keep Medicaid costs under the national average, and to a yearly growth rate of 3.4 percent,” said Lynne Saxton, Director of the Oregon Health Authority. “The costs of Medicaid are borne by state and federal taxpayers and the CCO rates released today will help us keep that commitment, and most importantly provide the best health care possible to Oregonians on the Oregon Health Plan.” OHA contracts with Optumas, an actuarial consulting firm, to assist in the rate development. The 2017 capitation rates that were released today to the CCOs and to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have been certified by Optumas as actuarially sound. The rates take into account several factors, including differences in regional costs, population disease risk and hospital reimbursement. The rates released today show that Oregon is on track to meet its cost containment rate of 3.4 percent, with an aggregate 2017 rate increase of 3.2 percent. Oregon has pledged to keep cost growth to 3.4 percent through 2017 based on a commitment to our federal partner CMS, and as part of Oregon’s current Medicaid waiver. While the rates show that Oregon is on track for this year, the rates also provide insight into future challenges, one of which is pharmacy costs. With prices for many pharmaceuticals increasing, OHA is looking at solutions to keep pharmacy costs in check including collaboration with CCOs to align and negotiate for better prices for high-cost drugs. A full list of Oregon’s 2017 CCO capitation rates are attached. Due to differences in population, the methodology matches payments to risk and mitigates the potential subsidizing between CCOs that would occur if each CCO received the same increase. Hey Folks, Please do not get angry at the business owners for trying to recoup some of their tax dollars. Everyone tries to take advantage of government loopholes, which are designed to divide the people based on all kinds of arbitrary categories. The people responsible for this form of corporatism are all those voters who keep putting politicians in office that are supporters of corporate welfare. The problem is not the company, but the government policy. If this business owner did not take advantage of the program another one would take its place, as designed. In this case, it is the worst program of all, Urban Renewal. Nero had a great Urban Renewal program that did not go so well for the Christians living in the neighborhood that was being redeveloped.....Rob T. Links to more information on Urban Renewal: http://www.cooscountywatchdog.com/end-urban-renewal.htmlPossible PERS solutions deemed likely constitutional Posted: 09 Sep 2016 07:30 AM PDT Sen. Betsy Johnson and Sen. Tim Knopp Salem, Ore. – Oregon’s Legislative Counsel has released a legal opinion on the constitutionality of possible Public Employees Retirement System (PERS) reforms. Of the reforms analyzed, seven were deemed likely constitutional. Senator Betsy Johnson (D-Scappoose) and Senator Tim Knopp (R-Bend) are spearheading the Bipartisan PERS Solutions Work Group. Any Oregonian interested in pursuing fair, constitutional PERS reform is invited to participate. Invitations have also been sent to a broad, bipartisan coalition of school administrators, local government officials, and labor and business groups representing a variety of interests across the state. “This legal opinion gives us a great foundation as we gather Oregonians around the state in our Bipartisan PERS Solutions Work Group to consider the best way to start fixing the nearly $22 billion PERS unfunded liability,” said Senators Knopp and Johnson. “We no longer want to hear that there are no solutions. Oregonians want fair, constitutional solutions to our PERS crisis and working together, we will find them.” The PERS reform options deemed likely constitutional by Legislative Counsel include: 1. Cap the final average salary calculation at $100,000 per year; 2. Use a market rate for Money Match annuities; 3. Ensure all PERS members contribute to their benefit by redirecting member contributions into an account to help pay for their future retirement; 4. Stop unfair pension enhancement by preventing future unused vacation and sick leave from artificially inflating final average salary calculations; 5. Spread the final average salary calculation over five instead of three consecutive years; 6. Move all new employees to a defined contribution plan requiring employers to match the 6% employee contribution into the Individual Account Program; and 7. Allow full bargaining regarding government payment of employee PERS contributions and limiting agreements to five-year periods. The PERS actuary, Milliman, is evaluating the financial impacts of these proposals. If implemented, these reforms would not affect benefits already accrued by current PERS members. “We now have a solid place to start conversations on real, fair PERS reform, and we’re ready to get to work,” said Senators Knopp and Johnson. “We invite any Oregonian interested in solving our PERS crisis to join us.” EDITORS: Report researchers Stacey Schubert and Steve Ranzoni will be available to answer questions about the report between 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27. Call Tony Andersen at 971-239-6483 to arrange an interview time. July 27, 2016 Media contact: Tony Andersen, 971-239-6483, phd.communications@state.or.us New report shows financial health of Oregon hospitals has improved as more people have gained health insurance coverage Salem, Oregon––A new report issued by the Oregon Health Authority (OHA) finds that as more people in Oregon have become insured, the financial standing of most hospitals has improved. Across Oregon’s hospitals, operating margins have increased, while uncompensated care decreased. The Highlights report––issued for the first time this year––also finds that hospital revenue has increased under the Affordable Care Act. Each year OHA is required to collect financial data from acute care hospitals under ORS 442.400-442.463, providing an annual snapshot of the healthcare needs of Oregon communities and assessing the fiscal health of hospitals under the ACA. The report, “Oregon Acute Care Hospitals: Annual Financials Reporting Highlights,” aims to provide a transparent source of healthcare information and inform policy conversations. “This data shows us that the new healthcare environment is providing more people access to affordable care while improving the financial stability of hospitals in Oregon,” said Lynne Saxton, director of the OHA. “Hospitals are a critical part of our healthcare delivery system, and their financial viability ensures that essential community services are delivered effectively and efficiently. This report provides patients and policymakers an accessible and transparent vantage point for exploring future opportunities.” Major changes to Oregon’s healthcare system in 2014 impacted charity care services provided by Oregon hospitals. As the ACA increased access to health care coverage through expanded Medicaid eligibility and the health insurance exchange, the proportion of uninsured individuals in Oregon fell sharply from 14.5 percent to 5.3 percent (Oregon Health Insurance Survey, 2013 and 2015). This significantly reduced the need for financial assistance and charity care as more people became insured and the cost of services provided to them were recouped by hospitals. According to the data provided in the report between 2014 and 2015:
Media availability Report researchers Stacey Schubert and Steve Ranzoni will be available to answer questions about the report between 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, July 27. Call Tony Andersen at 971-239-6483 to arrange an interview time. # # # Related Posts: County Planning Approves Weyerhaeuser Co. to Lawfully Create Lots or Parcels BOC Town Hall on Camping at Bastendorff Beach in Charleston December 2, 2015 AOC Conference ~ OR County Commissioners in Cahoots November 17-20, 2015 BOC Advertising for Finance Director/County Administrator After Voters Rejected It Vote NO on the Transient Occupancy Tax ~ Measure 6-152 BOC ~ County Dog Board, Prisoner Release, Public Meeting for October 13, 14, & 15 Board of Commissioners Op-Ed for Measure 6-152 Transient Occupancy Tax Coos Bay Alternative Location for Waste Water Treatment Plant Oct. 6, 2015 Bandon Cheese Factory Receives Private Financing & Still Pays No Property Taxes LTE ~ Leshley Don't Know Dick About the JCEP Work Camp Jody McCaffree Appeals LNG Road Construction Coos County Planning Oct. 9, 2015 Do Enterprise Zones Work? ~ An Ideopolis Policy Paper February 2011 Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015 Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet
Related Posts: Educational Enterprise Zone Workshop Roseburg OR Thursday, September 17, 2015 Coos County Planning Decisions on LNG & Effected Roads LTE ~ CEP appears to be great for Canadian Veresen / JCEP LTE ~ LNG Pipeline Man and His Bag of Money LTE ~ Should We Be Worried Dealing with Veresen and the LNG LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet Democratic Party Passes Resolution Opposing Eminent Domain for LNG Commissioner Candidate Refuses to Disclose Answers to a Questionnaire Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare Officials Obscuring Facts on the Bandon Marsh Mosquito Infestation Yes to LNG, No to the CEP #USFWS Admits Fault for the Bandon Mosquito Infestation #CoosCounty Commissioner Candidate Debate October 8, 2014 in Coquille MGX---Controversial Alliance for Progress Co-Founder Donates to Sweet Campaign #CoosBay Uses Urban Renewal Money for Confederate Tribe Private Development Bribed Surgeons Implanted Counterfeit Medical Devices into Patients MGX---County Assessor has Real Disconnect on Community Enhancement Plan #Coquille & #MyrtlePoint School Districts Among Worst at Utilizing Public Funding BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County Unanswered Questions about the South Coast Community Foundation
Related Posts: Why does the Government Own & Hoard Resources? USDA---National Resources Inventory Summary Report 2010, not good for OR-Farms USDA---Rural Development Funding Opportunities SAOVA_West---Lawsuit filed against APHIS Retail Pet Store Rule USDA---Endangered Species Act Section 7 for State & County Offices RCGI---Latest vote on the NDAA 2014 November 21, 2013 US Senate---O&C Land Grant Act of 2013 USDA---2013 Farm Subsidy Database Natural Resources Committee---How ESA Settlements are Harming Local Economies Port Orford---Government Ownership equals Poverty and hungry children Hey Folks, The BOC is taking applications for the county's Budget Committee and it would be a good idea to get someone who has the ability to show fiscal restraint. This committee is where all the skeletons come out and a board member can take the time to ask the important questions, and you will have questions. All other committees are for political cover when our representatives need a stamping board to do the job they do not want to do.....Rob T. Oversight Hearing on "National Fish Hatchery System: Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report" Wednesday, March 5, 2014 10:00 AM Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs 1324 Longworth House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515 Oversight Hearing on:
Subcommittee Chairman Witnesses and Testimony:PANEL I The Honorable David P. Roe Member of Congress from the State of Tennessee The Honorable Eric A. “Rick” Crawford Member of Congress from the State of Arkansas The Honorable Doug Collins Member of Congress from the State of Georgia PANEL II Mr. David Hoskins Assistant Director Fish and Aquatic Conservation U. S. Fish and Wildlife Service Ms. Diane Parks Acting Deputy Chief of Operations and Regulations Headquarters U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Mr. Ed Carter Executive Director Tennessee Wildlife Resources Agency Testifying on behalf of Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (Truth in Testimony Form) Background:The National Fish Hatchery System was established in 1871 to address seriously declining fish populations by building a network of federal hatcheries to propagate fishery resources for future generations of Americans. These facilities, which average more than 70 years old, produce and distribute 140 million fish and 120 million fish eggs with a value over $5 billion each year. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently issued a “Strategic Hatchery and Workforce Planning Report” which accelerates the ongoing transition from stocking efforts to the recovery and restoration of federally listed species. The report now ranks the priorities of the hatchery system as: recovery, restoration, tribal treaty programs, native species mitigation propagation and non-native species mitigation propagation. This hearing will examine this report and the negative effects that the recommendations in this report would have on American jobs and the economy. Related Documents:
Related Posts: Tribal Forest Management in the Subcommittee on Indian and Alaska Native Affairs OPRD ~ Fascinating Email Exchange Involving Stuntzner, Sweet, & Bandon Biota #USFWS Admits Fault for the Bandon Mosquito Infestation USFW---Public Comment on Further Closings in Wallowa-Whitman, Umiatilla, Malhuer 87.5% of Wilderness Land Trust Members Support Acquisition of Private Property Sign the Petition to Save American Small Family Farmers from Corrupt Bureaucrats The 2014 Preserving the American Dream Conference September 19-21, 2014 BLM, USFWS, USFS, Using ESA to Intimidate, Bully & Threaten Citizens Rights Natural Resource Committee Demanding Senate Action on H.R.1526 Public Comment Why does the Government Own & Hoard Resources? Senator Wyden’s O&C Plan will Bankrupt Counties Part #2 Senator Wyden's O&C Plan will Bankrupt Counties Part #1 Senator Whitsett---Oregon: Transfer public lands from feds? Natural Resources Committee--State Forests Management Superior to Federal Forests O&C Land---Timber Bill and Log Prices BLM---Lawsuit expands to lock-up 90 million bd-ft of timber WANTED: Examples of Economic Hardship Due to ESA Critical Habitat GOA Alert: Senate to vote on the Federal Land Seizure Act on Thursday From a Watchdog in Curry County:Update: Is Curry County Really Broke?The original intent of this update was to provide a one page (front & back) summary/overview of my candidacy. This includes topics such as: • Why I'm running • Education & Background • Commissioner lack of Credibility & voter Trust • My Recommendations Going Forward That summary/overview is attached. One astounding expensive event occurred this past Wednesday Oct. 1, 2014 during another marathon Curry County Commissioner general meeting that lasted nearly three hours. That event has become the main subject of this update. The meeting agenda item was 6. k. Hire Order, J. Schmelzer, Director of Administration This is the 4th Director of Administration hired by commissioners since around mid - 2011. The electronic "Agenda Packet" as it is now referred to with all the detailed information (177 pages for this meeting) was not made available online for citizen review until the next day. So, citizens interested in the particulars of the Hire Order were not privy to any information until after the fact. Download the packet here: http://www.co.curry.or.us/Portals/0/Documents/BOC/2014_10_01%20General%20Meeting%20Packet%201.pdf If I am elected, this intentional lack of transparency will change immediately. A little background on the recent history of this position: The Hire Order was to replace Ms. Dickson who, according to Commission Chair Brown claimed Brown was harassing her and threatened to sue the county. Subsequently Dickson with no documented background in law enforcement was transferred/promoted to the position of Executive Administrative Assistant to the Curry County Sheriff effective September 2, 2014. Effective July 1, 2014 the Director of Administration pay grade was E12 Step A: $4,345/month Effective Oct. 1, 2014 the Hire Order elevates the Director of Administration pay grade to: E12 Step F: $5,555/month: This 5 step increase results in an annual pay increase of $14,412. The cost for this position with benefits will exceed that of most senior managers, department heads and elected officials. Think this won't cause some internal strife among employees? Think again. Why not hire a county manager or administrator instead? Is Curry County Really Broke? Tom Huxley Related Posts: Rebuttal to #CurryCounty Workers Pay Increase Article in Coastal Pilot Write-in Candidate for the City of #CoosBay Congratulations for Another Choice Bandon Voters Get Your~Vote NO on Measure 6-150~Signs Available NOW LTE~ A Package of Rancor for Coos County Commissioner John Sweet LTE~ Response to "The World" Article on the "Home Rule" Charter in #CoosCounty MGX~Lobbyist a Big Waste of #CoosCounty Money for Wagon Road Lands Commissioner Sweet's Family Farm Mentioned in Emails on Bandon Biota Exchange Commissioner Candidate Refuses to Disclose Answers to a Questionnaire Letter to Editor~ #Coos Bay Citizens should understand the job of Mayor #CoosCounty Commissioner Candidate Debate October 8, 2014 in Coquille #CoosCounty Releases List of Local Candidates in November General Election From a Very Alert Watchdog in Coos Bay: From: fred kirby Sent: Tuesday, August 12, 2014 6:50 AM To: Treasurer; Steve Jansen Subject: Monies collected as Urban Renewal Dear Madam Treasurer and Assessor Jansen: With minimal effort, in the easiest format, may I receive the following for the past two full years: Tax assessed labeled Coos Bay Urban Renewal Number 1 and Number 2 (or Coos Bay and Empire) Tax collected as Urban Renewal number 1 and 2 and sent to the city of Coos Bay. Thanks for your time and response. Fred Kirby Coos Bay --------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Denise Harris <dharris@co.coos.or.us> Date: Tue, Aug 12, 2014 at 3:03 PM Subject: RE: Monies collected as Urban Renewal To: Fred Kirby Cc: Steve Jansen <sjansen@co.coos.or.us> Mr. Kirby: I have listed below the information you requested. This is what would be collected if all taxes were collected in full. If you need anything else, please feel free to contact me anytime. 2012-13 Coos Bay #1 $1,009,874.24 based on Excess Value of $66,141,918 Coos Bay #2 $ 617,681.22 based on Excess Value of $40,462,028 2013-14 Coos Bay #1 $1,016,894.64 based on Excess Value of $66,582,055 Coos Bay #2 $ 654,070.37 based on Excess Value of $42,841,165 Denise Harris Chief Deputy Assessor Coos County Phone: (541) 396-7902 Fax: (541) 396-1027 Email: dharris@co.coos.or.us Proper Response: In my part of town we gave away the Hollering Place and cleaned out a couple planter boxes. Related Posts: Port of #CoosBay Blowing Through Your Tax Dollars Like Drunken Sailors Commissioners Campaign Contributors are Champions of Corporate Welfare Yes to LNG, No to the CEP MGX---Controversial Alliance for Progress Co-Founder Donates to Sweet Campaign #CoosBay Uses Urban Renewal Money for Confederate Tribe Private Development Bribed Surgeons Implanted Counterfeit Medical Devices into Patients MGX---County Assessor has Real Disconnect on Community Enhancement Plan #Coquille & #MyrtlePoint School Districts Among Worst at Utilizing Public Funding BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County Unanswered Questions about the South Coast Community Foundation MGX---CEP/SCCF will Impact ALL of Oregon AFP---Information on the CEP/SCCF Presentation at the Red Lion on May 1, 2014 Letter to Editor---SCCF Should pay for Coos Bay Sewer Upgrades Letter to Editor---Promises in the Dark with the Jordan Cove Project BOC---Public Meetings Coos County Planning Changing Land Use Laws Letter to Editor---County Politicians Keeping Public in the Dark on SCCF RPCC---Republican Monthly Meeting "Candidate Forum" April 24, 2014 Critique of the BOC Town Hall in Bandon---"PUT IT ON THE BALLOT" BOC---Public Meetings on South Coast Community Foundation "Put it on the Ballot" BOC---Public Meeting for Vote on South Coast Community Foundation April 1, 2014 Letter to Editor---South Coast Community Foundation Scam will Top All Past MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding League of Oregon Cities Class of Slanted View on History of Urban Renewal in OR City of Bandon---Expanding Government Cheese Hey Folks, The following are link to a couple articles analyzing the causes of the Detroit Bankruptcy There are lessons here that need to be learned by the people of Coos County before we go forward with the Community Enhancement Plan.....Rob T. Judge Declares Detroit Bankrupt; Gives OK to Cut Pensions, Burn CreditorsSix days after Orr moved to declare bankruptcy, the state of Michigan approved plans for a bond issue to help pay for a new $444-million arena for the Detroit Red Wings hockey team. Taxpayers would be enlisted to pay off those bonds, of course, all in the name of “stimulating” the economy. Governor Snyder said that such a project would be “a huge momentum shift” for economic activity, and that it would tie in nicely with nearby baseball and football stadiums. He said, "It’s something that hopefully will be a tax-base generator. Not the arena as much per se, but all the surrounding development." The Detroit BankruptcyLegacy Expenses The city’s “legacy expenses” increased by $62.8 million between FY 2008 and FY 2013. These legacy expenses include the city’s debt service and financial expenses as well estimates of its future liability for healthcare and pension benefits it pays to retirees. A close look at the city’s legacy expenses reveals that this $62.8 million increase was driven heavily by the city’s complex financial deals, not retiree benefits.
Financial deals.Detroit’s financial expenses have increased significantly, and that is a direct result of the complex financial deals Wall Street banks urged on the city over the last several years, even though its precarious cash flow position meant these deals posed a great threat to the city. The biggest contributing factor to the increase in Detroit’s legacy expenses is a series of complex deals it entered into in 2005 and 2006 to assume $1.6 billion in debt. Instead of issuing plain vanilla general obligation bonds, the city financed the debt using certificates of participation (COPs), which is a financial structure that municipalities often use to get around debt restrictions. Eight hundred million dollars of these COPs carried a variable interest rate, which the city synthetically converted to a fixed rate using interest rate swaps. These swaps carried hidden risks, and these risks increased after the Federal Reserve drove down interest rates to near zero in response to the financial crisis. The deals included provisions that would allow the banks to terminate the swaps under specified conditions and collect termination payments, which would entitle the banks to immediate payment of all projected future value of the swaps to the bank counterparties. Such conditions included a credit rating downgrade of the city to a level below “investment grade,” appointment of an emergency manager to run the city and failure of the city to make timely payments. Projected future value balloons in low, short-term rate conditions. This is because the difference between the fixed swap payments made by the city and the floating swap payments projected to be paid by the banks increases. Because all of these events have occurred, the banks are now demanding upwards of $250-350 million in swap termination payments. These swap deals were particularly ill-suited for a city like Detroit, which had been hovering on the edge of a credit rating downgrade for years. Because the risk of a credit downgrade below “investment grade” was so great, the likelihood of a termination was imprudently high. The banks and insurance companies were in a far better position to understand the magnitude of these risks and they had at least an ethical duty to forbear from providing the swaps under such precarious circumstances. The law recognizes special duties that sophisticated financial institutions owe to special entities like cities in providing complex financial products. A strong case can be made that the banks that sold these swaps may have breached their ethical, and possibly legal, obligations to the city in executing these deals. Related Posts: Open Letter to the Coos County Board of Commissioners about the SCCF County Elections Questions from a Constituent for County Commissioner Cribbins BOC---Cowardly, Commissioners Cribbins & Sweet Betray the Voters of Coos County Unanswered Questions about the South Coast Community Foundation MGX---CEP/SCCF will Impact ALL of Oregon AFP---Information on the CEP/SCCF Presentation at the Red Lion on May 1, 2014 Letter to Editor---SCCF Should pay for Coos Bay Sewer Upgrades Letter to Editor---Promises in the Dark with the Jordan Cove Project BOC---Public Meetings Coos County Planning Changing Land Use Laws Letter to Editor---County Politicians Keeping Public in the Dark on SCCF RPCC---Republican Monthly Meeting "Candidate Forum" April 24, 2014 Critique of the BOC Town Hall in Bandon---"PUT IT ON THE BALLOT" BOC---Public Meetings on South Coast Community Foundation "Put it on the Ballot" BOC---Public Meeting for Vote on South Coast Community Foundation April 1, 2014 Letter to Editor---South Coast Community Foundation Scam will Top All Past MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding League of Oregon Cities Class of Slanted View on History of Urban Renewal in OR City of Bandon---Expanding Government Cheese Urban Renewal---King Hales of Portland Master of Government Development FBI Press Release on Charges Against Local Bandon Developer Michael Drobot Urban Renewal---Read How Schools suffer to Support Wealthy Foreign Companies City of Bandon---Local Developer Michael Drobot Admits to Bribery & Conspiracy Preserving the American Dream: Lessons in Beating Boondoggles Agenda 21---Sustainable Development & Regionalism City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract Hey Folks, The following is a list of all the private nonprofits that are allocated by the city of Bandon to receive public money from the State Revenue Sharing fund. Charity is a good thing, but it starts in the heart and at home, not in the chambers of City Hall. Some of these organizations have some questionable practices and the money could have gone into the General Fund to benefit everyone, including the tax payers. "The Go Native" program promotes the idea of wetland restoration over agriculture and the group supported the Bandon Marsh expansion. The Washed Ashore "project" also promotes extreme environmentalism. If you do not want this money to go to these groups then you need to contact the Bandon City Councilors.......Rob T. Rob: Below is the list of State Revenue Sharing allocations approved by the Budget Committee. The City Council will have a final hearing on the State Revenue Sharing budget at their regular meeting on June 2, 2014. Have a great day! Matt citymanager@ci.bandon.or.us STATE REVENUE APPROVED BY BUDGET COMMITTEE The Recipient Group and the Amount Approved
Bandon Senior Nutrition $3,000 Bandon Community Youth Center $2,000 BandonPrepares $1,000 Bob Belloni Ranch, Inc $0 BRAVO $1,500 Coastal Harvest $1,500 Coos County Area Transit $3,000 E. A. T., Inc. $1,200 Go Native Project $2,500 Greater Bandon Association $2,500 Historical Society $2,500 Lions Club $1,000 Neighbor to Neighbor $680 RSVP $0 The Washed Ashore Project $2,000 Women's Safety & Resource Center $650 *************************************************************************************** TOTAL REQUESTED $25,030 CEP will impact all of Oregon http://mgx.com/blogs/2014/04/28/cep-will-impact-oregon/ One of the reasons given for the proposed sale and privatization of an invaluable public treasure like the Elliott State Rainforest is to raise funds to educate Oregon’s schoolchildren. Therefore, it may be of interest to all of Oregon that four rural taxing districts are on the brink of making a decision that will cost the State School Fund upwards of half a billion dollars over the next 20 years. Estimated at $7.5 billion the proposed Jordan Cove LNG export terminal is touted to be the largest single development project in Oregon history. Sited on the North Spit of Coos Bay, supporters trumpet that the terminal will more than double the tax base of disadvantaged Coos County. From its inception in 2004, Jordan Cove LNG has been marketed by local proponents as a savior that will provide as much as $52 million in annual tax revenue, funding schools, adding more deputies and paving our roads. These claims are made despite the project’s location within both an urban renewal district as well as an enterprise zone. The latter will provide Jordan Cove Energy Partners, wholly owned by Canadian company, Veresen, Inc., with an automatic five-year property tax exemption. In January, however, Coos County citizens learned that many of these same proponents have decided the Jordan Cove spoils simply cannot be left to the vagaries of established property tax revenue distribution and management and have devised a scheme they call the Community Enhancement Plan (CEP). The CEP will divert the revenue into two private nonprofit organizations one ostensibly to provide extra funds to local schools and the other for economic development and waterfront revitalization. Veresen has long maintained that it does not want nor need the enterprise zone abatement and company spokesman Bob Braddock told an audience in July 2012 that it had “made a commitment” to make an estimated $30 million annual payment in lieu of taxes to the county tax collector. In order for the CEP to work, however, the plan architects asked the company to apply for not only the standard exemption but also for the fifteen year Long Term Rural Enterprise Zone Exemption. All four enterprise zone sponsors, the Port of Coos Bay, the cities of North Bend and Coos Bay and the county, must unanimously approve the extended abatement period. According to the CEP architects, the application will only be approved on the condition Veresen agrees to pay “service fees” equal to the taxes into the two nonprofits. The conditions of approval coupled with the fact the company was asked to apply for the extension has led to a countywide debate as to whether these are private funds or if they should be treated as public funds subject to Oregon’s open meetings and public records law. Like the sale of the Elliott Forest, one of the main reasons given for using private nonprofits rather than a public trust is to help educate our children. Thanks in no small part to legislative actions in Salem that provide special assessments to large timber owners and incentive programs like enterprise zones, Coos County realizes only 30% of its tax potential. Consequently, the State of Oregon must backfill 74% or $57 million annually to educate the county’s 9,400 students, thereby limiting resources available to each of Oregon’s 561,000+ students by $102 per year. The Jordan Cove terminal would bring nearly $20 million annually to the Coos Bay School District, reducing the backfill provided to the district while at the same time raising the resources available to students everywhere. CEP promoters refer to this method of equalization as “claw back” and consider it “Draconian” so with a $15,000 contribution from Veresen, they formed the South Coast Community Foundation (SCCF) last summer. The CEP directs 50% of Jordan Cove’s service fees to SCCF. The founding board members, Senator Joanne Verger, John Whitty and Bill Lansing, freely admit SCCF was formed specifically to circumvent claw back in order to retain the money wholly for local schools while continuing to rely on the State School Fund for three quarters of the county’s education costs. SCCF is so intent upon thwarting equalization it has inserted a “poison pill” into its bylaws where if the State dares to equalize funds distributed by the foundation, the board will simply not spend the money on education at all. There are several other components to this potentially billion-dollar privatization scheme and it has divided the county. State Senator Arnie Roblan, a retired educator and Representative Caddy McKeown a former school board member have urged local officials to approve this plan. Opponents have labeled it money laundering and consider it a scam to put self-appointed power brokers in control of public money without any accountability. Regardless of which side you are on, the CEP, if enacted, will impact all of Oregon. Related Posts: MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding MGX---Fighting over the Jordan Cove Spoils MGX---Tioga gun club not priority say commissioners Tioga Sports Park Gun Range Public Meeting January 30, 2014 MGX---The Jordon Cove Plan using County Tax Dollars MGX---Mary still tackling taxes and government development MGX---Citizens may have to solve this problem without elected leaders MGX---Rebuttal to Wayne Krieger MGX---Mary slams The World, Jon Barton, Messerle, The ORRCA Board and LNG MGX---Economic development spin cycle begins again MGX----Some Damn good Stories from Mary Geddry MGX---Older Posts, but still relative.... Hey Folks,, On April 1st, 2014, at 9:30 AM in The Owen Building, the Coos County Board of Commissioners will be deciding on enacting a new foundation that will siphon tax dollars normally used to support the basic services in other taxing districts. The money being redirected to the South Coast Community Foundation is all discretionary funding, meaning it can be spent on anything. There is little to no oversight, no public recourse, no transparency, no accountability, and no way to stop the process until the established expiration date. Please, read the file on the left, which will explain some history of government Economic Development in Coos County. The File on the right is the White Paper the Jordon Cove Energy Project Twenty years of economic development and the county is almost bankrupt and unemployment is hovering around 10%...............Rob T.
Related Posts: Letter to Editor---South Coast Community Foundation Scam will Top All Past MGX---Geddry Slams Koch over Forced Cooperation & Jordon Cove Funding League of Oregon Cities Class of Slanted View on History of Urban Renewal in OR City of Bandon---Expanding Government Cheese Urban Renewal---King Hales of Portland Master of Government Development FBI Press Release on Charges Against Local Bandon Developer Michael Drobot Urban Renewal---Read How Schools suffer to Support Wealthy Foreign Companies City of Bandon---Local Developer Michael Drobot Admits to Bribery & Conspiracy Preserving the American Dream: Lessons in Beating Boondoggles Agenda 21---Sustainable Development & Regionalism City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract What is Craft3 & how does it relate to Agenda 21 INTERNATIONAL CODE COUNCIL Community Vs. Collectivism Regionalism - The Blueprint for Your Serfdom Success against Agenda 21 The Smoking Gun The direct link between Agenda 21 and local planners! The International Code Council and You... Port of Bandon in North Bend, Why? Urban Renewal---Tualatin council to consider plan for Cabela's Urban Renewal---A tale of bad planning in two Cities Urban Renewal---Oregon schools could recoup money Bandon---Combine Private Public Partnership w/ Urban Renewal and you get cheese... Urban Renewal---Tax fight aims at PSU renewal district Urban Renewal Money in the hands of the Politicians B-Corporations: The Redefining of what it means to be a Corporation Support SB478 Cities are using Monopoly Utilities to Game the System Action Alert:---State Legislation SB 478 The Federalization of Local Urban Renewal Agencies The Antiplanner---The Feds Want to Take Your Car #22
Press Release Secretary Jewell, NPS Director Release New Report Showing National Parks Remain Strong Economic Engines, Support 243,000 Jobs Nationwide Preliminary Estimates of Shutdown’s Impact Shows More Than $400 Million in Losses to Local Communities 03/03/2014 Contact Us WASHINGTON – Boosted by an additional 4 million visitors in 2012, national parks across the country continued to be important economic engines, generating $26.75 billion in economic activity and supporting 243,000 jobs, according to a peer-reviewed report released today by Secretary of the Interior Sally Jewell and National Park Service Director Jonathan B. Jarvis. “National parks like Yellowstone and Gettysburg are places of unimaginable beauty and powerful history that help tell America’s story while connecting us with nature,” said Jewell. “At the same time, our national parks help propel our nation’s economy, drawing hundreds of millions of visitors every year who are the lifeblood of the hotels, restaurants, outfitters, and other local businesses that depend on a vibrant and reliable tourism and outdoor recreation industry supported by our public lands.” “In 2012, the National Park Service welcomed more than 280 million visitors to their national parks. For nearly 100 years we have helped people discover places to explore, learn from and enjoy,” said Jarvis. “These places of history, culture and natural wonder offer unparalleled experiences and return $10 for every $1 American taxpayers invest in the National Park Service. That’s a successful formula we can all embrace as we prepare for the next 100 years of the National Park Service.” More than 200,000 of the jobs supported by national parks in 2012 were in local neighboring communities. These range from big parks like the Grand Canyon, which attracted 4.4 million visitors and supported 6,000 jobs, to smaller parks like the Lincoln Boyhood Home, which had 133,000 visitors and supported 93 jobs in local communities. This 2012 analysis is a revision from previous reports. Many of the hallmarks of the past model are preserved, but the new model makes significant strides in accuracy and transparency of the analysis. Key changes include new software, updated assumptions about the nation’s economy based on 400 different characteristics, and new estimates of spending and visitor trip characteristics. The figures in the report are based on spending by nearly 283 million visitors in communities near national parks in 2012. An in-depth analysis of the 2012 figures found an increase in local visitor spending and a correlating increase in economic activity and jobs in local communities. Jewell and Jarvis today also announced estimates of the government shutdown’s impacts on national park gateway economies. Overall, the16-day shutdown resulted in 7.88 million fewer national park visitors in October 2013 compared to a three-year average (October 2010-12), and an estimated loss of $414 million in visitor spending in gateway and local communities across the country when comparing October 2013 to a three-year average (October 2010-12). These losses are part of an economic analysis of the shutdown’s effects on parks and neighboring communities that was released today. While the shutdown figures do not affect the 2012 economics report, they will weigh on the 2013 economics report due out later this year. The annual economic report, with information by park and by state on visitor spending, jobs and other impacts, and the shutdown report, are available here. According to the 2012 economic analysis, most visitor spending supports jobs in restaurants, grocery and convenience stores (39 percent), hotels, motels and B&Bs (27 percent), and other amusement and recreation (20 percent). For more state-by-state information about national parks and how the National Park Service is working with communities go to www.nps.gov/[statename], for example: www.nps.gov/virginia. << Previous Secretary Jewell Applauds Confirmation of Mike Connor as Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Interior Related Posts: Open Letter to the BLM Responding the Public Meeting on December 11, 2013 BLM---Seeking Nominations to the Western OR, Medford District Advisory Committee BLM---Oregon Greater Sage-Grouse Draft RMP Available for Public Comment Natural Resources Committee---How ESA Settlements are Harming Local Economies BLM---ACTION ALERT Coos Bay Listening Session on Road Closures Senator Whitsett---Oregon: Transfer public lands from feds? BLM---Open House at New River ACEC Saturday May 18, 2013 BLM holds back part of timber county payments Congressman Peter DeFazio & The Land and Water Conservation Fund USFWS---Land & Water Conservation Fund---National Fish & Wildlife Foundation USFWS---Three Articles relevant to the LWCF and the NFWF Senators Wyden and Reid Planning 2013 Omnibus Federal Lands Bill USFWS---Oregon Islands National Wildlife Refuge American Policy Center---news on more Federal Land grabs The National Fish & Wildlife Foundation The US Forest Service Is Involved With Another Land Grab in Coos County Keep the Lights ON in Bandon Congress wants answers on Oregon farmer crackdown Land Acquisition Green Group Gets $2.4 Billion from BP Settlement RMP's for Western Oregon Urgent, Urgent, Urgent, House May Cave On LWCF. Call Now. Oregon Fish & Wildlife Meeting Subject: EEL LAKE/COQUILLE VALLEY LAND EXCHANGE NO BME From a watchdog in Fairview Oregon Dear Editor, The real question is: Why are our commissioners and would-be County leaders rushing agreements, relieving Jordon Cove of 15-plus years property tax? The company has yet to acquire a building permit, prove it's reliability, or use it's initial property tax relief. If a company proposing plans of this magnitude is solid it should not need to take our money! Our commissioners are poised to approve Jordon Cove's tax relief based on verbal statements they will create 501(3)(c)'s, yearly giving millions to verbally stipulated beneficiaries chosen by themselves. Additionally, there would be no public oversight as their board selections, meetings, and financial decisions will all be private. (Individuals who lost their property due to unpaid property taxes wish they had such a deal.) Why rush giving Jordon Cove millions of dollars? Could Chapter 662 Oregon Law 2003 section 307.123, modified October 16th 2013, be of interest? The legislation allows property tax relief to be transferable. " ....upon the property being acquired by a business firm that is different from the business firm that initially benefitted from the exemption...." Section 9 of this legislation states "....A determination ... that a project shall be exempt from property taxation ...must be requested by official action of the governing body of the county .." ( ie. our Board of Commissioners ). These rushed decisions by our BOC have a great deal to do with our present financial state. Consider the State's '2012 Financial Condition Review' of Coos County: "...a balanced budget will become more difficult..." " Coos County debt is primarily for the county-owned pipeline." They further stated the 2012 commissioners' response: "As a result, the county commissioners indicated they will need to consider liquidating county assets in order to pay expenses"....What the report did not state was Northwest Natural's pipeline payment to Coos County continually equals our payment to them for maintenance. We taxpayers got $27 million, plus interest, in debt. The 2012 commisioners gave Oregon Rescources Corp. similar tax perks based on verbal assurances of hundreds of jobs. Four days after obtaining our transferable lease, they laid off about half of their remaining employees. The list of ill thought out, rushed decisions with our money and land goes on and on. We deserve better. This time the commissioners must, at a minimum, require beneficiaries of our assets use what they have already been given before asking for more. Jaye Bell Letters to Editor: Letter to Editor---Questionable Nonprofits received money for Disaster Preparedness Letter to Editor---Oath Keepers seeks support for RCGR from Rep Krieger Letter to Editor---Should Jordan Cove get permits Letter to Editor---Publically owned beaches in Oregon Letter to Editor---commissioner responsibility Letter to Editor---The Problem with PERS Letter to Editor---3 Issues 4-5-13 Letter to Editor---The Dark-Sky Conspiracy Continues Letter to Editor---Relax Bandon and Let there be light... Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS? Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical Letter to the editor,---Voting for the Home Rule Charter “Voice of the Voters” measure 6-143 Must Read Letter to the Editor Related Posts: Letter to Editor---Home Rule Charter Meetings January 2-14, 2014 Agenda 21---Sustainable Development & Regionalism Community Vs. Collectivism Regionalism - The Blueprint for Your Serfdom Letter to Editor---WHY DID THE CHARTER BALLOT MEASURE 6-143 NOT PASS? BOC---Regulatory Streamlining and why they want an Administrator MGX---a few links to some very informative articles from Mary Geddry City of Bandon---Votes on the renewal of City Manager's Contract MGX---"Change the title of the administrator to 'director' and the problem is solved." BOC---Regulatory Streamlining and why they want an Administrator Letter to Editor------Feckless or Hypocritical MGX---Spinmeisters at The World newspaper..... Audit report 2012-17 MGX---plans underway to dismantle county government Jackson County regional planning gets green light---Regionalization coming to Coos Hey Folks, The following article is from The Oregon Catalyst, so click the link to read the entire piece. Most committees for cities and counties are absolutely useless and are used to shelve the ne'er-do-wells and goody-good doers. However, the Budget Committee is where all the skeletons are revealed. Usually, these meetings are not filmed by the local public access TV station. Remember to always follow the money and that is done by checking the books. Dave Berg is right on the mark with his current article.....Rob T. Get involved in your local government budget committees! by In the news Tuesday, February 11. 2014 by Dave Berg “The best way out of a difficulty is through it.” - Will Rogers A couple of years ago I wrote an article saying that budgets mean choices and the easiest choice is “doing nothing”. Many communities in Oregon no longer have this option after the impact of years of “tax & spend” policies. Why? These policies have eroded their reserve of general fund revenues. They have often used “urban renewal” to promote special interest projects, only to see funding for core city services like police, fire, and streets stagnate. At the same time the cost for providing these critical core services escalated and cities had limited general fund monies to pay for them. Hey Folks, The article below lists the Books that shaped work in America. Ayn Rand is featured twice....Rob T. Books That Shaped Work in AmericaIn honor of its Centennial in 2013, the Department of Labor (DOL), in partnership with the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress, is developing a list of Books that Shaped Work in America. Below are the current Federal publications that the Government Printing Office family feels belong among this esteemed list of books about jobs, employment, workers' rights and benefits, labor relations, and more. Read more about this DOL initiative. Hey Folks, I did not know you could get a Almanac for government assistance. This is whacked. I can't wait for the paperback edition, then I can afford a copy....Rob T. Government Assistance Almanac 2013 Now available for just $229.99!
Government Assistance Almanac 2013 A Guide to Federal Domestic Financial and Other Programs Now in its 22nd edition, Government Assistance Almanac 2013 provides information on all federal domestic assistance programs. These programs represent over $3 trillion worth of federal assistance earmarked for distribution to consumers, children, parents, veterans, senior citizens, students, businesses, civic groups, state and local agencies, and others. Comprehensive Coverage The book covers every program described in the Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA), but in a format that is much more understandable and accessible to the general reader. It condenses the information in the federal catalog to the essentials needed by those seeking federal assistance. Starting in 2003, the U.S. government stopped distributing print versions of the CFDA, making Government Assistance Almanac an even more valuable resource. Special Features
Hey Folks, This is a distressing story for anytime, but it really hurts around Christmas. These kids deserve better and our generation has been a huge disappointment. It is time to stand up and demand the Federal government to get off the land needed for a family provider to make a living. Call your representative and tell them to look at the results of the Feds owning 60% of Curry County. The Department of Interior is the number one culprit in causing this financial disaster. We should be RIOTING in the streets. When are they going to learn, what is it going to take, their children going cold and hungry?.....Rob T. Oregon's Port Orford-Langlois school district has one of worst child poverty rates in U.S., report saysThe Port Orford-Langlois School District on the southern Oregon coast has one of the highest rates of child poverty in the nation, the Census Bureau reported Thursday. Citizens may have to solve this problem without elected leaders http://mgx.com/blogs/2013/11/08/citizens-fix-local-tax-inequity/ Related Posts:
MGX---Rebuttal to Wayne Krieger MGX---Mary slams The World, Jon Barton, Messerle, The ORRCA Board and LNG MGX---Economic development spin cycle begins again MGX----Some Damn good Stories from Mary Geddry MGX---Older Posts, but still relative.... MGX---A Little Bit of Everything MGX---Planning Director....for Fun.....Lehman accepts Job MGX---Keeping The World news honest... MGX---PSU work session update MGX---Takes one to know one, a shill I mean MGX---a few links to some very informative articles from Mary Geddry MGX---"Change the title of the administrator to 'director' and the problem is solved." MGX---Parry's puddle MGX---Mayor Schamehorn insecurity goes too far MGX---rat PAC(K) news MGX---Spinmeisters at The World newspaper..... MGX---plans underway to dismantle county government MGX---healthy local skepticism CHEESE FACTORY WILL BE EXPANDINGAt their special meeting on November 18th, the City Council unanimously approved a lease with Face Rock Creamery for the existing 1,200 sq.ft. warehouse building west and south of the cheese factory which is currently being used by the Electric Department for materials and equipment storage. The cheese factory will be installing insulation and sheet rock on the inside, and some refrigeration units to use it as a cheese aging and storage facility. Certain cheeses must age for several months to several years at a temperature of 430 F to increase their sharpness and improve other qualities. Face Rock Creamery has indicated that their ultimate goal would be to eventually purchase enough property to construct new offices and additional storage. However, they need some additional storage space immediately due to the large number of orders they are anticipating. Face Rock Creamery currently employs 17 individuals (some full-time and some part-time), and they estimate that this number could double if their on-site, export, and internet sales increase as projected. Without leasing the additional storage from the City, their other options would have been to rent some refrigerated trailers or rent or construct a building someplace else. The lease is for an initial term of three years at $600 ($.50/sq.ft) per month for the first year, increasing to $750 per month for the second year, and $1,000 per month for the third year. Face Rock Creamery is hopeful that within a year they would be able to negotiate a price with the City for purchasing additional property at the existing City Shop property so they could construct a larger building for cheese storage, shipping, packaging, and offices. The new lease can be canceled by Face Rock Creamery with 90 days advance notice. In the event of such a cancellation without mutual agreement, the City would retain ownership of the building improvements and refrigeration equipment. Regarding the City’s use of the building and property, the plan is to relocate all of the City Shop operations to the new City Shop site southwest of the 11th Street and Rosa Road intersection. This will move the emergency vehicle, equipment, and materials storage out of the 100 year flood plain and make them much less susceptible tsunami inundation. The storage which is currently located in the warehouse building will be relocated to other parts of the existing building and to the transformer building which has already been constructed at that new location. The most critical use in the building is the “hot stick” room where the equipment and for working on live (“hot”) electric transmission lines is kept in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. As part of the new City Shop relocation process, the Electric Department has determined that the preferred alternative would be to purchase a “hot stick” trailer. Such a trailer has been ordered, and is preferable to a fixed location, since it will allow all of the equipment to be immediately hauled and available at any work site. Related Posts:
State Government Surveying Government Planners The International Code Council and You... MGX---Economic development spin cycle begins again Support SB478 The Preserving the American Dream Conference 2013 October 27-29 Port of Bandon in North Bend, Why? Urban Renewal---Tualatin council to consider plan for Cabela's Urban Renewal---A tale of bad planning in two Cities Urban Renewal---Oregon schools could recoup money Bandon---Combine Private Public Partnership w/ Urban Renewal and you get cheese... Urban Renewal---Tax fight aims at PSU renewal district Urban Renewal Money in the hands of the Politicians B-Corporations: The Redefining of what it means to be a Corporation Cities are using Monopoly Utilities to Game the System Action Alert:---State Legislation SB 478 The Federalization of Local Urban Renewal Agencies Urban Renewal gone bad---read the stories |
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