BEND, OR -- The citizen group tasked with creating a proposal for funding needed street repairs in Bend is running into problems before it even gets started. The Bend Chamber of Commerce has withdrawn from the group until the Chamber's board can vote on whether to continue.

The citizen group is supposed to come up with a road funding proposal that can garner public consensus. But, Chamber President Tim Casey tells KBND problems arose when City Councilors voted to narrow the options. "The City Council meeting on Wednesday, they got together and instead of moving forward with a committee, they decided to put a gas tax on the March ballot. In our mind, at least from my Executive Committee's perspective, that predetermines the outcome; it's contrary to what you form a citizens group for." He adds, "As Mayor Clinton has clearly stated, the City Council has every intention of moving forward with a gas tax. We're more than welcome to form our committee, and do whatever it is we decide to do within our committee, but he just wanted to be clear the city is moving forward with a gas tax. What is really the reason behind forming a committee if they already have a predetermined outcome?"

The Chamber's board is expected to vote Tuesday, August 25 whether to continue to participate in the committee. "One of our concerns we have is that the state legislature just passed the carbon fuels tax which is estimated to add 18-cents to fuel prices; we know that they didn't pass anything for transportation, which means there is going to be a transportation bill passed; and if the city passes their gas tax, that's a triple gas tax put on Bendites. That's going to have a significant impact."

City Councilors voted last week to place a local gas tax on the March ballot. Bend 2030, which initially approached the City Council about forming a citizen committee to work toward a consensus, is also threatening to withdraw from the group for the same reason.