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Dear Friends,
I hope everyone is able to get some time off and enjoy the beautiful summer we have had. Before you know it, school will be starting again and Fall will be right around the corner.
I have been busy with harvest which will wrap up with grape harvest in October, working to help constituents with issues, attending community events, preparing for September Legislative Days, and getting ready to send my youngest child off to college.
As always, I hope you find this update helpful. Please reach out to my office with any questions or concerns.
Sincerely,
Oregon Housing and Community Services reopened the federal Homeowner Assistance Fund (HAF) Program to new applications last week. The program offers federal temporary COVID-19 emergency mortgage relief intended to support homeowners who have experienced severe financial hardships due to the pandemic. It provides funding for past-due mortgages and other housing expenses, as well as ongoing payment assistance, to a limited number of homeowners with low to moderate incomes.
In case you missed it - just about a month ago, the City of Salem passed a new tax on everyone who WORKS in Salem...doesn't matter where you live, but if you work in Salem, you will see a new tax on your paycheck beginning July 2024.
Employers with employees who work in Salem and outside Salem would need to track time and pay for the new tax. Talk about an HR nightmare. The new tax would cost the average worker $500 a year during a time when every dollar counts for families. Despite all the testimony opposing this tax, Salem City Council supported it in a 5-4 vote and the Mayor stated publicly that the Council knew best and the new tax did not need to go to the voters.
However, he may have spoken a little too soon. Oregon Business and Industry filed a petition to refer the tax to the voters. They needed to gather just under 4,000 signatures to place it on the ballot. They submitted 13,000 signatures! If you live in Salem, keep a look out for the referral on your ballot in November. Salem voters deserve to have their voices heard on this matter.
Packing duffle bags with Senator Janeen Sollman (D – District 15 – Forest Grove, Cornelius, Hillsboro, Rock Creek) and US Senator Ron Wyden for Project Never again. I learned about Project Never Again during the 2022 session and was honored to Co-Chief Sponsor SB 854 during the 2023 session supporting this amazing program. Foster Children deserve compassion and this program forces ODHS to take a simple step during a difficult time for a child when they are being taken into care. This bipartisan bill is a great example of compassion over politics. Read more here.
Earlier this month I hosted two town halls - one in Newberg and one in Dallas. We had a great turnout with lots of good questions and conversation about the 2023 Legislative Session.
News Makers @ Noon at the Polk County Fair. Always appreciate the opportunity to share what's going on at the fair and encourage the community to attend!
Beautiful baby judging with Tara Townley, Dallas Chamber of Commerce, and Victoria Fetters-Deifino, Monmouth-Independence Chamber of Commerce.
***Stay updated here***
CURRENT LARGE FIRES IN OREGON
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FLAT FIRE – located 2 miles SE of Agness, OR, this fire started on July 15 on the Rogue-Siskyou National Forest and is currently the largest fire in the state at 33,817 acres with 47% containment. It is burning in extremely difficult terrain and very dry fuels, which means this fire will remain on the landscape throughout the summer months. ODF continues to work with USFS and CFPA to manage the fire and protect high-risk values.
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PRICEBORO FIRE – located 9 miles E of Junction City, OR, this fire started last Friday, August 4, and has burned 310 acres and is 75% contained. This was an incredible catch (one of the best this year for ODF), and made possible through the combination of ODF resources, local landowner efforts, Linn and Lane County fire departments, and OSFM. The fire is currently in the mop-up stage and as the resources are no longer necessary, they are being redirected to other fires – a true victory on this one!
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BEDROCK FIRE – located 27 miles SE of Eugene, this fire started on July 22 and has burned 15,178 acres on the Willamette National Forest. It is progressing north toward private land and ODF protection. Landowners and ODF staff have been engaged for weeks in an attempt to keep the fire off private ownership, however, due to difficult terrain and associated safety concerns, some private land will be burned. ODF personnel have been inserted into the IMT to ensure private land values at risk remain a top priority.
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WILEY CREEK FIRE – located 9 miles E of Sweet Home, OR, this fire started on August 7 on USFS ownership and is currently 220 acres and 5% contained. Unfortunately, the fire has spread onto approximately 10 acres of ODF protected land. Evacuation notices and road, trail, and area closures remain in place. A significant airshow with helicopters, water scooping, and retardant dropping aircraft was critical in reducing the spread rate of this fire and allow firefighters to establish fire lines quickly and safely. A robust Type 3 IMT is in place and making great progress through utilization of dozer and handline to surround the fire while resources begin the mop-up of hotspots. ODF remains confident this fire will remain in its current footprint with decreasing smoke impacts and fire activity alleviating some of the local concerns.
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LOOKOUT FIRE – located 4 miles NE of McKenzie Bridge, OR, this fire was caused by lightning from a storm that moved through the area on August 5 and is currently 25 acres and 0% contained. Active fire behavior has prompted evacuation notices and threat to structures. This is a USFS fire in rugged land and roadless areas on Lookout Mountain and is ODF’s biggest concern due to a potential push toward Blue River through the combination of terrain aligned with east winds. USFS has a Type 3 IMT on the fire currently but has a Type 2 team incoming to take over management of the fire.
Capitol Phone: 503-986-1423
Capitol Address: 900 Court St NE, H-387, Salem, OR 97301
Email: Rep.AnnaScharf@oregonlegislature.gov
Website: https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/scharf
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