Ballot measures in special election

A special election is being held on Tuesday, Nov. 4, with two Rainier-related measures to be voted on. Ballots will be mailed on Thursday, Oct. 16, to voters within the relevant districts. No voters pamphlet is being produced for this election. The following are the two measures for the Nov. 4 election:

Measure 5-306: This measure was filed by the City of Rainier. According to the summary provided in the associated paperwork, “The public streets and sidewalks in the city of Rainier are consistently in need of construction, reconstruction, improvements, repair, upkeep and maintenance, to promote ease of travel and commerce in and around the city. The city’s current revenue sources do not provide adequate funding to support said construction, resconstruction, repair, upkeep and maintenance. The city wishes to enact a $0.03 per gallon motor fuel tax on all motor fuel dealers to provide such work. The tax applies to both gasoline and diesel fuel. The taxes collected would be wholly dedicated to street and sidewalk projects, subject to city control, as required by the Oregon Constitution.”

Measure 5-307: This measure was filed by the Rainier Cemetery District to vote on a five-year local option tax for cemetery operation. According to the summary provided in the associated paperwork, “This measure authorizes Rainier Cemetery District to impose a local option property tax of $0.05 per $1,000 of assessed value each year for five years, beginning with the 2026-2027 fiscal year. With this measure, the District is asking for the continuation of a current levy which will expire on July 1, 2026. This District is not asking for an increase in current property tax rate but rather a five-year extension of an existing levy. Tax revenues will be used to purchase and maintain equipment, perform maintenance, and continue full-time cemetery operations of 12 cemeteries. Without the continuation of this additional revenue, the District will be unable to replace necessary equipment and may be forced to reduce its operating hours and service levels.” The submitted measure states that a home assessed at $200,000 results in an estimated cost of $10 per year. The proposed rate is estimated to raise approximately $79,799 (2026-2027), $82,194 (2027-2028), $84,660 (2028-2029), $87,199 (2029-2030), and $89,815 (2030-2031) for a projected total of $423,667.

Drop sites for ballots include Rainier City Hall, Clatskanie Library, and Columbia County Courthouse.