Oregon House Republicans Acknowledge Major Miscalculation in Transportation Funding Proposal
In a surprising turn of events, Oregon’s House Republican caucus admitted on Tuesday to a significant miscalculation regarding projected revenue from leasing unused office space at the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT). Initially, the caucus estimated that leasing 70,000 square feet could generate $56 million every two years. However, state officials clarified that the realistic figure is likely below $4 million, with some experts suggesting it could be as low as $1.7 million.
The error emerged after an investigation by The Oregonian/OregonLive, which indicated a misunderstanding of industry terms regarding commercial lease rates. The Republicans had mistakenly used an annual asking rate as a monthly figure, inflating their revenue estimate.
Sam Herscovitz, a spokesperson for the GOP caucus, emphasized the necessity of utilizing vacant state property to benefit Oregonians. Despite their revision, the real estate market hints at even lower revenues, with ODOT confirming that only about 11,000 square feet of office space is actually available for lease, much lower than the Republicans initially suggested.
This flawed estimate plays a critical role in the Republicans’ counterproposal to a Democratic transportation funding plan that includes tax increases for infrastructure improvements. The GOP plan seeks to avoid tax hikes while proposing cuts to public transit and environmentally friendly projects.
Additionally, the caucus acknowledged another oversight regarding the state’s cleanup programs, admitting that their initial savings estimate was lower than actual expenditures. The GOP’s total projected savings now stand at approximately $685 million for the biennium, down from an initial claim of $730 million.
As legislative discussions continue, the House Republicans’ plan appears unlikely to influence the ongoing negotiations among top Democrats. Lawmakers must finalize a comprehensive transportation package by the end of June.
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