Kotek Forms Transportation Workgroup After Oregon Voters Reject Measure 120, Leaving $300 Million Gap
Updated
Updated · KATU · May 21
Kotek Forms Transportation Workgroup After Oregon Voters Reject Measure 120, Leaving $300 Million Gap
8 articles · Updated · KATU · May 21
Gov. Tina Kotek has convened a bipartisan transportation funding workgroup after voters rejected Measure 120, with recommendations due by year-end for the 2027 legislature.
Nearly $300 million in ODOT's current-cycle shortfall was already covered by lawmakers in 2026, preventing immediate job or service cuts through the end of 2027.
ODOT says its highway fund has lost about 27% of its purchasing power since 1998, as inflation, higher construction costs, fuel-efficient cars and EV adoption erode gas-tax revenue.
Without new funding, state documents warn Oregon could face worsening pavement, more weight-restricted bridges, interstate-only paving and permanent closure of 15 to 20 DMV offices.
The vote hardened political divisions: Republicans said voters rejected new taxes, while Senate leaders and workgroup co-chair Bruce Hanna said long-term fixes will still likely require more revenue and stronger ODOT accountability.
As Oregon's roads decline, what essential services will be sacrificed to bridge the state's funding gap?
With project costs soaring, how will Oregon ensure taxpayer trust before proposing new funding solutions?
As the gas tax model fails, what innovative and fair funding alternatives will Oregon pioneer for its roads?
Oregon’s Transportation at Risk: $242 Million Deficit Spurs Kotek’s Workgroup After Voters Reject Measure 120
Overview
After Oregon voters decisively rejected Measure 120, a proposed transportation tax package, lawmakers faced urgent pressure to find a sustainable way to fund the state’s roads, bridges, and transit. In response, Governor Tina Kotek created a work group to explore long-term funding solutions, with a focus on recommendations for the 2027 legislative session. The group’s meetings are open to the public, reflecting a commitment to transparency. This effort comes amid strong public resistance to new taxes, highlighting the challenge of developing a funding strategy that addresses infrastructure needs while earning broad support from Oregonians.