Oregon voters will have a chance to decide on two measures this year that would provide public education buildings and emergency service buildings with earthquake protection.
Ballot Measure 15 would amend the Oregon Constitution, giving the state power to issue general obligation bonds to “retrofit or reinforce” public education buildings to withstand earthquakes. This would include state universities; elementary, middle and high schools; education service districts; community colleges; and similar public education buildings. The measure also limits the state from using the bonds to go into debt more than .2 percent of the real market value of all property in the state.
For repayment, the measure directs the Oregon Legislature to repay all costs related to the bonds — including principal and premium — from taxes, lottery proceeds, tobacco settlement funds or other sources of revenue besides property taxes.
Seven university presidents — including University President Dave Frohnmayer — co-signed a statement in favor of the measure, adding that most buildings owned by state government are on the campuses of the seven universities.
“When the big earthquake hits, we must be prepared,” they said in the statement. “Tens of thousands of university students in our laboratories, auditoriums and classrooms need protection.”
They added that investment would pay off in numbers of lives saved if an earthquake were to strike — one possibly as strong as magnitude 9.
While the ballot language said property taxes may not be used to repay the bond debt, Oregon Earthquake Awareness said in a statement the possibility exists for other tax increases.
“The statement that Ballot Measure 15 will not raise taxes is not necessarily correct; since Section 2 (1) permits repayment of the general obligation bonds from the ‘General Fund, including taxes … levied to pay the bonds,’” the group said. “You don’t get something for nothing — not even earthquakes!”
Similarly, Ballot Measure 16 would amend the Oregon Constitution so the state could issue general obligation bonds to protect emergency service buildings to withstand earthquakes. These buildings include fire stations, hospitals,
police stations, sheriff’s offices and similar facilities used by any level of government.
The measure would require the same repayment as Measure 15, and both estimate no financial effect on state or local government expenditures or revenues.

Election guide

On Friday, the Emerald will publish a four-page pullout guide to the city, county and state ballot measures and the races affecting the University area, as well as the editorial board’s endorsements for the Nov. 5 general election.

Contact the senior news reporter
at [email protected].