2006-881-Order No. 2006-135 Recorded 9/6/2006REVIE D
L GAL COUNSEL
COUNTY OFFICIAL
NANCYUBLANKENSHIP, COUNTY CLERKS CJ &446'881
COMMISSIONERS' JOURNAL ,
II2006-8IIII YVIIIIIIN~I
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BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON
An Order Approving the Home Rule Charter
Explanatory Statement for Voters Pamphlet in the * ORDER NO. 2006-135
November 7, 2006 Election.
WHEREAS, In February 2006, The Board of Commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing the
creation of a Home Rule Charter Committee; and
WHEREAS, The Home Rule Charter Committee formulated the proposed Deschutes County Home
Rule Charter which has been filed with the County Clerk for placement on the November 7, 2006 election
ballot; and
WHEREAS, ORS 251.345 and DCC 1.14.030 provide that the governing body that has referred a
measure to the voters shall submit an impartial, simple and understandable statement explaining the measure and
its effect; and
WHEREAS, the Elections Division of the Secretary of State's office has advised that the proposed
Home Rule Charter is analogous to a referred measure and thus it is appropriate for the Board to approve an
explanatory statement; and
WHEREAS, the Home Rule Charter Committee has prepared and rcommended the attached
Explanatory Statement; now, therefore,
THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF DESCHUTES COUNTY, OREGON, HEREBY
ORDERS as follows:
Section 1. The "Explanatory Statement: Adoption of Home Rule Charter" (attached hereto as Exhibit
A) is approved for submission to the Deschutes County Clerk for inclusion in the voters pamphlet prepared for
the November 7, 2006 election.
//4
DATED this to day of September, 2006.
BOARD OF GO TY COMMISSIONERS
OF DESCH(J~S COUNTY, OREGON
R. LUKE,
/ATTEST:
Recording Secretary
BEV CEARNO, Vice Chair
4 461-1
I EL M. DALY, Co issioner
PAGE I of 1- ORDER No. 2006-135 (09/06/06)
EXHIBIT A
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
ADOPTION OF HOME RULE CHARTER
Since the 1950's, Oregon law has allowed counties to exercise local control over their form of
government by adopting a Home Rule Charter, which is similar to a constitution. Since then,
nine counties in Oregon have adopted home rule charters, and all of these counties continue to
operate under their charter. In February 2006, the Deschutes County Board of Commissioners
adopted a resolution authorizing the creation of a Home Rule Charter Committee. The Charter
Committee was appointed by the Board of Commissioners and our state legislative delegation.
Following a series of public hearings and workshops, the Charter Committee formulated the
proposed Deschutes County Home Rule Charter, which is before the voters at this election.
The Charter will implement changes in the way Deschutes County government is formed and
operated. Under the Charter, the Board of Commissioners will have two principal duties. The
first is to formulate policy for the county, and the second is to oversee the appointed County
Administrator, who will be responsible for the administrative oversight of County departments.
The Charter will create no new taxing authority without a vote of the people.
The composition of the Board of Commissioners will also change under the proposed Charter
from three to five members. The Commissioners will be elected without regard to political party
membership (nonpartisan). Each Commissioner will be elected from a geographic district rather
than county-wide. These districts will be approximately equal in population and recognize the
distinct areas of community interest within Deschutes County. These changes will increase
representation on the Board of Commissioners.
The salaries of the Commissioners will be reduced from a full-time salary of $70,000 plus
benefits. The Commissioners will receive a salary of $30,000 that could be adjusted by the
Budget Committee based on the Consumer Price Index. The Charter Committee has
recommended the Commissioners also receive benefits. This salary would enable
commissioners to serve on a basis other than full-time. The Charter Committee's intent is that
these changes in the number of Commissioners be budgetary neutral.
The Sheriff and Clerk will continue to be directly elected by the voters of Deschutes County.
The Treasurer and Assessor will become appointed positions.
The charter will be subject to change. Every ten years following the official United States
Census, the district boundaries will be reviewed and may be adjusted to ensure that they remain
approximately equal in population. The provisions of the Charter can be changed by a majority
vote of the electors of Deschutes County.
Statement submitted by the Deschutes County Home Rule Charter Committee and Board of
Commissioners
Order No. 2006-135 (09/06/06) EXHIBIT A