Government Finance: Local Government Local government in Oregon
is predominantly financed by the property tax, although there
are other local taxes, such as hotel-motel taxes, transit taxes
and, in Multnomah County, a business income tax. Most local
governments must prepare and adopt an annual budget. This
includes schools, counties, cities, ports, rural fire protection
districts, water districts, urban renewal agencies and special
districts. Oregon’s Local Budget Law establishes standard budget
procedures and requires citizen participation in budget
preparation and public disclosure of the budget before it is
formally adopted. A budget officer must be appointed and a
budget committee formed. The budget officer prepares a draft
budget and the budget committee reviews and revises it before it
is approved. Notices are then published, copies of the budget
are made available for public review and at least two
opportunities for public comment are provided. Local government
budgets are usually for a fiscal year beg