The May ballot will put a more than $180 million question to Bend’s voters: will they raise property taxes to fund transportation projects?
At a Wednesday meeting, the Bend City Council unanimously approved a transportation bond amount up to $190 million, and a priority project list developed over years of negotiations between city leaders, user groups and neighborhood associations.
If voters say yes, property taxes in Bend will go up an estimated 47 cents for every $1,000 of assessed value, which for the average value home comes to about $170 per year, according to City Manager Eric King.
City leaders promise the money will help pay for improvements to Reed Market Road, the Parkway, 3rd Street, east-west connections and safe access to schools, parks, and jobs.
James Dorofi chairs the Old Farm District neighborhood association, which advocated for projects benefiting a large section of east Bend. He was among a chorus of supporters praising City Council's efforts to organize the bond. He also said he understands that transportation is slow work.
“If you guys say yes today,” Dorofi said right before the vote, “then it’s going to be up to a few months of communication with everybody, then it’s going to be up to the voters. Then it’s going to be up for years of construction.”
The council created an oversight committee of community members to help manage the proposed bond. The election is May 19.
