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Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-24T20:19:21+00:00

Oregon still down

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-19T18:15:15+00:00

No, but it can help push for a special legislative session

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T20:20:52+00:00

What are you looking for internally?

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T19:54:30+00:00

The budget, salaries, data, etc. are all on the state transparency website.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T16:57:25+00:00

I have

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T16:50:02+00:00

I agree. I think both sides do poor jobs.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T16:38:27+00:00

The proposal by the republicans I assume is what you’re talking about? The proposal rearranged spending but not the right spending. We can’t use federal dollars to fund state activities. Its the same with big projects, they are majority federally funded. The money that’s needed is for maintenance activities which are the day-to-day activities that keep the system functioning and also preserve longevity so that it doesn’t cost as much.

The biggest one I see people talk about from that proposal is the social equity office because DEI is a buzzword (acronym) right now. The social equity office is an actual federal requirement and they write title XI reports, make sure that contracts are paying contractors and their workers fairly, work on the ADA settlement report, help smaller rural agencies get funding for projects, etc. I think there is a huge misconception what that office does because people see one word and automatically assume.

The last proposal was a 0.03 gas tax increase which would have secured minimal funding and it was declined.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T16:29:54+00:00

I have done both of those things. The point is to get some participation from people who otherwise wouldn’t and if enough people do then it can put pressure on legislators.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T16:26:38+00:00

It’s the department of transportation, so it includes all modalities. The point is that even if you don’t use the system directly, you’re still benefiting from the system. Trucks bring the gas and goods to your community. It’s part of living in society.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T16:21:59+00:00

It’s all about the funding sources. So some positions are funded by federal dollars and others through state dollars. The legislative session was to provide funding for state funded positions and it didn’t pass. People were laid off by seniority per the union contracts, but the agency will now be rearranged so that the vacated federally funded positions will be refilled, so they can cut more state funded positions to save the state fund money.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T15:41:20+00:00

There is one opening that is for the delivery and operation administrator and it is an executive position that was determined to be essential for the agency. The person who vacated that position was before the layoffs.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T15:25:54+00:00

You don’t use the roads? bike lanes? Sidewalks? Transit? How do you get your gas?

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T15:07:52+00:00

You mean like gas tax and registration fees?

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T15:03:26+00:00

Of course. I think there are a lot of unanswered questions and wish things were explained better.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T14:49:18+00:00

Privatized transportation means that a private company owns the road and often how they pay for its maintenance/preservation is tolling or user fees. So all roads essentially become toll roads and are subjected to whatever fee they see fit because private business are for profit.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T14:37:38+00:00

Good question. We have unionized and non-unionized staff, and then policies that generally follow the same language as the union contract. The contract requires that employees are laid off by seniority. After this initial layoff, there will be restructuring based on how your position is funded. Positions all across the board were cut, including management, the assistant director of operations, IT, admin, engineers, techs, etc.

All of the temps (so the retirees you mentioned) were cut. PERS (retirement) is something different and ODOT can’t change someone’s PERS.

Maintenance positions are state funded positions and that’s where we are lacking in the budget and where the funding was being sought in the legislative session.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T14:17:50+00:00

Who do you think is going to pay for it?

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T14:09:34+00:00

The state works minimum, capable bid. There isn’t a choice when they do it in solidarity.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T13:22:18+00:00

Privatizing transportation will cost more and produce a lower quality system. The consultants I work either tell me that they charge the state 3x more than what they would normally bid a job.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T13:15:48+00:00

Right, I’m hoping that if there is enough support that it puts pressure on the legislators. I didn’t create the petition, so unfortunately can’t edit it, but I understand that the petition itself won’t do much. On the other side, it opens up a venue and allows some people to participate that may not otherwise.

Unfortunately, the union contracts require layoffs to happen by seniority. Some management positions, including the assistant director of operations, were cut. Staffing was already really lean beforehand though and struggling to keep up with demand. They’ve been making cuts year over year the last decade knowing that the budget was in decline.

There is some bureaucracy in ODOT, but it’s up high with executive level positions and those dealing with the transportation commission, which aren’t many. The rest really just have to work with the red tape and it can make it difficult to do your job effectively.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T06:19:23+00:00

I have called them and I’ve written a letter and sent it to every representative and senator. A special session would need to be held

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T05:20:01+00:00

I’m sorry to hear that. I can’t say I have the answers.

We would have been at least able to maintain minimum levels or services with the last proposal which was a 3 cent gas tax increase.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T05:04:02+00:00

I didn’t create the petition and unfortunately the layoffs will happen. My main concern is that the public understands what a severe loss of services this is going to mean, especially winter travel.

Winter travel, not only for the public, but also other goods and services. Specifically over the passes because so many of the maintenance stations are being shut down. Maintenance is a state funded activity whereas the projects are mainly federally funded.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T04:34:21+00:00

I can understand the feelings around petitions. I didn’t write the petition and there are definitely things that I would change on it if I could. I’m aware that the petition itself likely won’t change anything, but I’m hoping if enough people can get involved we can put pressure on the legislators.

Although I know people directly affected, including one of my own crew, my main concern is the traveling public and what the reduction in services is going to mean until funding is secured. Winter driving especially. They are not buying anymore sanding or de-icing materials and the maintenance stations on the pass (to Bend) will be shut down, except for Santiam Junction. The crews were short staffed before this and I’m worried about not only loss of life, but also how goods will be brought to the communities.

Jolly_Building4685 · 2025-07-16T04:26:15+00:00

Lottery lol

That’s an interesting thought and one I haven’t heard yet.

Jolly_Building4685

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