REVENUE MEASURES PASSED
1997 OREGON LEGISLATURE

TRANSPORTATION

Makes available new special salmon license plate for cars, motor homes, and travel trailers. Imposes surcharge of $15 per plate on issuance and renewal. Pays up-front costs of salmon plate with General Fund loan. Splits net proceeds between the Governor's Watershed Enhancement Board and State Parks.

Makes available new veteran's license plate available only to veterans. Imposes $5 surcharge. Places Purple Heart medal image on plates issued to medal recipients. Requires Department of Veterans Affairs or other group requesting plate program to pay up-front costs. Dedicates net proceeds to Oregon Veterans' Home.

Increases surcharge for existing special plates from $2.50 to $5 generally. Increases Oregon college recognition plate surcharge to $16. Allows college plates to contain the institution's logo or mascot. Requires groups requesting special plates to pay all up-front costs. Stops manufacture of existing special plates unless groups reapply under above provisions.

State: Other Fund revenue increases as follows:

This estimate assumes: roughly 3.5% of 370,000 veterans will buy plates; 7,800 persons will by college plates (based on a University of Oregon estimate that 2,600 persons will buy "duck" plates); salmon plates will be available in January of 1998 and 1% of vehicles will bite; and 1,000 vehicles will get plates for other eligible groups. Revenue for other groups that may apply, including Oregon Trail Plates, is indeterminate. (Note: each vehicle has two plates.)

Allows Department of Transportation to enter into agreements to construct or operate a tollway or related facilities partially or wholly within the Portland metropolitan urban growth boundary. Requires criteria to authorize tollway include consideration of effects on community and local street traffic.

State: Indeterminate effect on the Highway Fund. The bill allows agreements but does not require that a tollway be built. If a tollway is built the Highway Fund could receive federal and local government revenue, bond proceeds, and tolls, rents, franchise, and other fees associated with the tollway operation.

Allows person requesting a motor vehicle fuel tax refund to use reasonable facsimiles in place of original invoices for documentation.

None.

Allows Port of St. Helens to construct and operate a toll bridge to replace the Lewis and Clark Bridge in Columbia County. Allows joint project with Port of Longview.

Local: Indeterminate. The bill establishes a process but does not require the toll bridge be built. If it is, the port could receive federal and local government revenue, bond proceeds, and tolls, rents, franchise, and other fees associated with the operation of the bridge.

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