BY SARAH ROSS
Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Speaker Dave Hunt, Rep. Terry Beyer, Rep. Paul Holvey (left to right)
EUGENE- Concerns over Oregon’s state budget and economy ruled the conversation at Wednesday’s town hall in Eugene.
The meeting was held at the Song Brook Community Center in west Eugene for local constituents to talk with their legislators about February’s legislative session. The legislators, all Democrats, included Rep. Val Hoyle, Rep. Nancy Nathanson, Rep. Terry Beyer, and Rep. Paul Holvey and House Speaker Dave Hunt, from Clackamas County.
Although questions were proposed about forestry and rent control, the audience focused their comments on the state’s budget. Questions, such as how to get tourists to pay their fair share of taxes and how accurate the state economist’s revenue forecast really is, were addressed to the Lane County representatives.
One question drew particular interest when the leaders were asked if something was being done to address the short-handed staff and resources at the Department of Human Services.
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With regard to the forestry issue, Speaker Hunt agreed that the environmental pendulum probably has swung too far in an extreme direction recently and that more harvesting of the resource should be considered, just not to the extent that it was permitted a few decades ago.
None of the legislators took a hard and fast stance on rent control, but Rep. Holvey said a conversation on the topic likely would be needed.
To get tourists to pay their fair share in taxes for using local resources, the legislators cautioned away from a sales tax, with Speaker Hunt calling it regressive. However, he did show interest in some kind of user fees that are generally tourist-specific.
