PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) – The Oregon Department of Transportation is facing layoffs after the state legislature wrapped up its session last week without approving millions more for the department.
Hundreds of layoff notices are anticipated this week, with at least 700 coming as soon as Monday.
Oregon Gov. Tina Kotek held a press conference soon after lawmakers wrapped up their session — two days before it constitutionally had to end.
“I have workers, 600 to 700 workers, in the Oregon Department of Transportation who are now facing layoffs, because for whatever reason, people couldn’t come together as Oregonians to fund that,” Kotek said.
The additional money for ODOT was supposed to come from a higher gas tax as well as higher vehicle title and registration fees.
ODOT said the money would have helped fix and maintain state roads and bridges, but none of it would have gone to cities and counties.
Republican lawmakers are claiming a win, saying they stood firm blocking new taxes by voting against the ODOT funding bill.
Republican House Minority Leader Rep. Christine Drazan said, “This idea that we cannot cut anywhere in government isn’t realistic for families. Families are making cuts and people everyday are trying to figure out how to tighten their belt. I don’t want anybody to lose their job, but I don’t want to assume that everything that a state agency did yesterday – that we have to do it no matter what in perpetuity.”
With 30 days to sign bills into law, Kotek can choose to call lawmakers back into a special session.
