Cascade Locks: Measure to fund EMS could be ‘uphill battle’

In bringing the city’s audits up to date, City Administrator Jordon Bennett reported a delay on the 2022-23 audit, currently in progress. Prior to Bennett’s tenure, a failure to load that fiscal year’s budget into the city’s accounting software created a delay in getting the requested documents to the auditor.

The auditor’s timeline of “TBA” did not sit well with the council, which directed Bennett to request specific deadlines on the audit.

Two councilors, Marianne Bump and Tiffany Pruit, along with Mayor Brenda Wood, further questioned the work assignment of newly hired Financial Officer Chantia Clarke, who works remotely most of the time, with Bump saying, “Chantia needs to be in the office.” Though personnel management is typically left to the city administrator, the trio believed that the physical presence of the financial officer might help expedite the overdue audits.

The 2022-23 audit was expected to be completed by May 30, according to the council’s goals.

Bennett then delivered the news that the city had received a $243,000 Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) Small Cities grant to “repair or resurface four side streets,” he said. The streets that will be improved are Riverview, Wheeler, Sunset, and Venture.

In council comments, Pruit said she had posted the upcoming ballot funding measure on an online “political forum” run by former Councilor Butch Miller, and the reactions suggested an uphill battle. The measure to fund fire and EMS services in Cascade Locks is a 7% sales tax on prepared food and beverage sold within the city. After weighing the options for fundraising, a committee that included Fire Chief John Logan suggested this as a funding solution. The committee’s reasoning was based on the fact that 72% of emergency service calls are from outside the city, and this measure puts the tax burden primarily on visitors. The alternative would be a property tax, which falls squarely on Cascade Locks residents. A final option is reduced fire and EMS services within the city. A brief discussion about informing the electorate ensued. Councilor Eric Keller reminded the group that it’s their job to educate the public about the measure and the effects if it does not pass. The council firmly believes that their constituents do not want to cut emergency services, and plan to promote the measure as a team.

The next regular meeting of the Cascade Locks City Council is scheduled for Aug. 11 at 7 p.m.