Deschutes County commissioners vote to draft support letter for SB 1544 to shift transit tax administration to COIC

Deschutes County commissioners voted during their Feb. 19 legislative update to direct staff to draft a letter supporting Senate Bill 1544, an amendment that would allow the Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) to serve as a qualified entity to accept transit taxes directly.

The motion was moved by Commissioner Devon and seconded (second not named in the public transcript). When the chair called for a roll-call vote, Commissioner DeBoehn voted “Yes,” and the chair recorded a “Yes” vote. Staff said they will draft the letter and circulate it internally and to the house transportation committee.

Doug, the county’s legislative staff, told the group the amendment was intended to cut administrative burden for the county, Cascades East Transit and tribal partners while preserving the county’s ultimate authority to act as qualified entity if it chose. “It cuts down on the administrative burden for the county, and all 3 counties and the tribes, as well as for COIC,” Doug said during the meeting.

Commissioners discussed timing: the house transportation committee had a deadline to pass the bill by the following Thursday. Jen (county staff) said Jeff will prepare a draft for review at next week’s meeting, and staff may expedite circulation if negotiations accelerate.

The motion instructs staff to prepare a formal letter of support, to be circulated internally prior to public release and submission to relevant legislative committees. The county’s recorded procedural step does not itself change the county’s formal position until a signed letter is submitted.

Next steps: staff will prepare the draft letter for commissioners’ review and, if approved, share it with the house transportation committee before the committee’s deadline.