Explanatory Statement:

Marion County has significant deposits of gravel, sand, stone, ore and other
aggregate materials used for road and building construction. These resources
are being extracted at the rate of approximately three million tons per year and
are not a renewable resource. Costs to the county associated with aggregate
extraction include:

  • Planning for aggregate sites in compliance with Oregon state law.
  • Repairing damage to roads from vehicles moving aggregate.
  • Issuing permits, inspecting, monitoring and enforcing compliance
    with conditions placed on extraction sites such as noise restrictions, dust
    abatement and protection of surface and ground water.
  • Planning for the use of sites after mining is completed.
The proposal would establish a tax of 30c per ton of aggregate extracted in
unincorporated areas of Marion County. This would produce an estimated
$900,000 per year in revenues. No more than eight percent may be used for
administration and collection of the tax. The annual net revenue, approximately
$828,000, is dedicated to the following services.

Roads: Forty percent, approximately $331,000, of the proposed tax would be
used for repairing, widening and strengthening county roads around aggregate
extraction sites near Turner, the Willamette River and other specific locations.
Planning: Marion County is required by state law to determine the quality and
quantity of aggregate resources, identify where aggregate extraction and other
surrounding land uses are in conflict and protect significant aggregate sites
from new development and uses that would conflict with extraction. Six sites
are currently in various stages of the land use process.
Fifteen percent of the revenue, an estimated $124,000, would help compensate for
the loss of state and local revenues that have resulted in a 24-percent cut in staffing
in the Planning Division.
Parks: Operations of Marion County's 14 developed and five
undeveloped parks are currently funded with revenues from Oregon's recreational
vehicle registration fee. This amount is inadequate to properly protect, maintain,
improve and develop park facilities or acquire land for future parks and open space.
Fifteen percent of the revenue, approximately $124,000, would be dedicated to county
parks.
Traffic Safety Enforcement: The Sheriff's Office reports that it receives a
number of calls from citizens concerned about traffic safety issues around the
aggregate industry. Approximately $124,000, or 15 percent of the revenue, would
be available each year for law enforcement response to possible speed, weight
and highway safety violations.
Child Abuse Reduction: State funding for Marion
County Children and Families Commission programs has been reduced
approximately $70,000 annually. Local funding is restricted due to the property
tax cuts of Measures 47/50 while Marion County's population continues to grow.
Some taxes on the depletion of natural resources have historically been dedicated
to public benefit, as taxes on harvested timber are dedicated to supporting
public schools. Of revenues from a tax on mining 15 percent, an estimated
$124,000 annually, would be dedicated to community based programs working
to reduce child abuse.
The tax would become effective July 1, 1998.

Submitted by:
Randall Franke, Chair
Marion County Board of Commissioners


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