Aug 28, 2023 | AOC News
The National Association of Counties (NACo), the National League of Cities (NLC), and the Oregon Housing and Community Services Department (OHCS) have joined an effort to promote federal legislation expanding a powerful tool local governments can use to help finance affordable housing developments.
Local governments have been increasingly turning to Private Activity Bonds (PABs) to boost affordable housing construction and alleviate the affordable housing crisis. PABs are a type of municipal “conduit” bond that local governments can leverage to fund construction of buildings, infrastructure, or amenities that provide some public benefit but which are privately owned.
Governments who issue PABs aren’t borrowing any money – the debt is carried by the project developer, who enjoys a favorable interest rate as a result of the federal tax break on investors’ PAB income. Since PABs cost the feds in the form of lost income taxes, states are subject to PAB caps. With the growing popularity of PABs in Oregon, the caps have started to seriously constrain the ambitions of Oregon local governments. As the affordable housing crisis continues, local governments need all the tools they can get to address the problem. The Affordable Housing Credit Improvement Act (AHCIA) of 2023 (AHCIA, S. 1557 & H.R. 3238) would increase the cap on PABs, empowering local governments to get more public benefit projects built.
Call to Action!
Local government leaders are being invited to sign on to a letter supporting the AHCIA.
[Click here to view the letter supporting the AHCIA]
[Click here to sign on to the letter supporting AHCIA]
The deadline for local elected officials to sign on is September 7.
The ACTION Campaign is the main advocacy arm of this effort, and they’ve partner with the National League of Cities, National Association of Counties and the Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment to circulate a sign-on letter from local elected officials—specifically, mayors, county executives, and county board chairs—to congressional leadership in support of the AHCIA.
Contributed by: Michael Burdick | Legislative Affairs Manager
Aug 28, 2023 | AOC News
Oregon is receiving millions of dollars from a federal grant program to help reduce gun violence, and the state is seeking a county representative to help decide how to spend the money.
The state is set to receive at least $7.5M from the federal Byrne State Crisis Intervention Program through 2026, which can be used to fund a variety of types of programs.
Oregon’s Criminal Justice Commission (CJC) is convening an advisory board to help them determine how to use the grant money, and they are hoping to recruit a county leader to serve on the board. The CJC anticipates the board will meet for about 90 minutes on a monthly basis.
Applications can be submitted here, and questions can be directed to CJC Senior Policy Analyst Bridget Budbill.
Contributed by: Michael Burdick | Legislative Affairs Manager
Aug 28, 2023 | AOC News
With the governor’s signing of Senate Bill 80 (2023) in July, the Oregon Department of Forestry (ODF) and Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) began to put in motion a month-long statewide outreach effort to incorporate county input and expertise into a new Wildfire Hazard Map.
AOC successfully advocated for this increased county involvement and representation in the mapping process during the 2023 legislative session and hopes these efforts will result in a well-received and accurate final product.
Pursuant to statute, ODF and AOC will host eight regional Wildfire Hazard Map meetings throughout the state beginning the first week of September, in conjunction with AOC’s eight annual district meetings.
Two weeks prior to their scheduled meeting each region will be provided a draft map for review by county technical staff – planning directors, emergency managers, and administrators.
During the meetings, ODF and state agency representatives will walk through identified areas of concern with county representatives. ODF will provide reasoning for any areas of concern that are unable to be alleviated.
These Wildfire Mapping County Meetings are broken down in the following way.
- AOC District 5: Benton, Lane, and Linn County
- Friday, September 8 in Eugene (Lane County).
- AOC District 7: Clatsop, Columbia, Lincoln, and Tillamook County
- Friday, September 15 in Tillamook (Tillamook County).
- AOC District 4: Coos, Curry, Douglas, Josephine County
- Monday, September 18 in Grants Pass (Josephine County).
- AOC District 2: Crook, Deschutes, Harney, Jefferson, Klamath, and Lake County
- Thursday, September 21 in Klamath Falls (Klamath County).
- AOC District 3: Gilliam, Hood River, Morrow, Sherman, Wasco, and Wheeler County
- Thursday, September 28 in Moro (Sherman County)
- AOC District 1: Baker, Grant, Malheur, Umatilla, Union, and Wallowa County
- Friday, September 29 in Pendleton (Umatilla County)
- AOC District 8: Washington, Multnomah, and Clackamas County
- Wednesday, October 4, in Hillsboro (Washington County)
- AOC District 6: Marion, Polk, and Yamhill County
- Friday, October 6, in Dallas (Polk County)
Governor Kotek has directed all the necessary and appropriate individuals from the executive branch to travel to each regional meeting to participate in person and ensure a thorough and productive process. AOC expects the following state partners to join county commissioners and staff:
Oregon Department of Forestry:
- Cal Mukumoto; State Forester (Availability limited)
- Derrick Wheeler; Legislative Coordinator
- Tim Holschbach; Deputy Chief, Policy and Planning
- Derek Gasperini; Public Affairs Officer
Oregon State University:
- Chris Dunn; Research Associate, Department of Forest Engineering
- Andy McEvoy; Research Assistant
Oregon State Fire Marshal:
- Mariana Riuz-Temple; State Fire Marshal
- Claire McGrew; Fire Protection Risk Administrator
- Chad Hawkins; Fire Protection Risk Manager
Department of Consumer and Business Services:
- Andrew Stolfi, Director and Chief Insurance Officer, DCBS
- Alex Chang; Deputy Administrator DCBS
- Eric Cutler; Section Manager, DCBS
- Alana Cox; Building Codes Division Administrator
- Eric McMullen; Senior Building Code Specialist
Contributed by: Branden Pursinger | Legislative Affairs Manager
Aug 28, 2023 | AOC News
Oregon Housing and Community Services (OHCS) unveils the County Profiles data dashboard, a tool that provides key data about housing dynamics in the state. The County Profiles aims to tell a comprehensive story about housing in Oregon while addressing questions frequently posed to the agency regarding affordable housing, home purchasing costs, and homelessness.
OHCS uses data to inform policy solutions. The agency created these profiles to provide information about various topics connected to housing, such as the race and gender of people living in poverty or the population of a specific county.
Each County Profile has five data sections:
- Population
- Poverty
- Homeownership
- Rental Housing
- Homelessness
The data is primarily sourced from the US Census Bureau’s annual surveys. The dashboard presents many of these statistics by race, ethnicity, and gender when the data is available.
The dashboard will be updated annually and continue to evolve to improve transparency. Individuals, organizations, and policymakers are urged to explore the County Profiles and email feedback, questions, or recommendations to hcs_research@hcs.oregon.gov.
Contributed by: Jessica Pratt | Legislative Affairs Manager
Aug 21, 2023 | AOC News
The Association of Oregon Counties (AOC) has hired Jennifer Lewis-Goff as a legislative affairs manager. Her portfolio will cover issues related to public safety, veterans services, and community development.
Lewis-Goff comes to AOC with nearly 15 years of diverse experience in policy analysis, advocacy, and member association management. She brings established relationships and demonstrated success in coalition building in the Oregon State Legislature and will be an asset to the association.
“AOC is excited to have Jen on the county team. I know she will be a great fit for our organization and will effectively elevate the county voice with our partner agencies and organizations,” said Gina Firman Nikkel, AOC executive director, of the hire.
Lewis-Goff will complete AOC’s Legislative Affairs team, joining Mallorie Roberts, who serves as the association’s legislative director (covering transportation policy); and legislative affairs managers: Michael Burdick (governance, revenue, and economic development), Branden Pursinger (natural resources and land use), and Jessica Pratt (health and human services).
Lewis-Goff’s first day is September 1, 2023.
Contributed by: Mallorie Roberts | Legislative Affairs Director
