As is often the case in times of difficult budgets, there have been efforts to impose or expand unfunded mandates on local governments, including counties. AOC has been monitoring those items of legislation, and reminding the legislature of limits the Oregon Constitution places on unfunded mandates, and its obligation to fund those mandates in certain instances. Recent examples are Policy Package 106 of the Secretary of State’s Budget (Senate Bill 5536), continuing funding Oregon Motor Voter (2015 House Bill 2177), and House Bill 3357, increasing the affordable housing fee imposed on documents recorded by county clerks.

Contributed by: Rob Bovett | AOC legal counsel