BEND, OR -- Transportation funding will be a closely watched topic during Oregon's 2025 legislative session, with ODOT expecting a $1.8-billion budget shortfall.

Deschutes County Roads Director Chris Doty says additional money allocated by state lawmakers will help locally. "Counties receive 30% of the State Highway Fund, cities receive 20% and then the state keeps 50% for ODOT to run the state highway system." Doty tells KBND News counties get more because, "Cities have a lot of funding tools to generate local funding. They're able to use property tax, for one. Counties are restricted from that. They're able to collect franchise fees, which are fees the utility companies pay for the privilege of locating utilities in the public's right of way."

Doty took part in last week's local tour with lawmakers tasked with creating ODOT's next funding package, "Got to look at the north end, North 97 project, here in Bend. Then, we got them on some county roads, got to take them around and show them what we've been up to. Show them how we've been investing some of the funds from the prior funding package." He says revenue, like from the state gas tax, is down. And without an adequate influx of cash, we could see local cuts, "We fund maintenance first, operations second - so, reacting to things that happen on the system, like snow and ice and stuff like that. And then what is left over, once we've funded those two things, we build projects with; capital projects. So, those projects would be on the chopping block." 

Doty says new staff is always wanted, but rarely funded, "You know, in terms of operating a department that is sustainable, what we try to do is have the fewest amount of people necessary to deliver a level of service that the public deems acceptable." He adds, "It's a matter of just creating priorities, and then making sure that we have the right things prioritized."

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