Sisters gas tax funds help improve city roads

If Bend voters approve a 5-cent a gallon gas tax in ballots that began arriving Thursday, it won’t be the first time the Central Oregon community has voted to pay more at the pump.

Sisters voters in March 2010 approved a 3-cent per gallon tax. In doing so, they rejected a referendum filed on behalf of the city’s gas dealers, after the city council’s earlier approval of the gas tax to help fund road needs.

Sisters city officials told NewsChannel 21 on Thursday that the gas tax revenues now make up about one-fourth of the city’s road budget.

John Schaelling said he supports the gas tax and thinks this is a short-term solution to a long term problem.

“I believe and I think many other people believe that these gas taxes are necessary just like I said to keep a base minimum of services available,” Schaelling said.

Some residents said they didn’t even know there is a local gas tax in Sisters, but many agree it’s worth it.

“I was not aware whatsoever,” Sisters resident Madeline Poulis said.

The Redmond City Council also adopted a local gas tax back in 2010, amid talk of a potential 5-year moratorium on such local taxes, but it was later overturned by the voters by a sizable margin.

Now, Bend residents will decide if they are willing to pay more at the pump to fill the potholes and pave the streets.

The mail-in ballots began arriving on Thursday and will be counted on March 8.