Mayor, councilor debate gas tax at City Club meeting

There are nearly 1,000 miles of road in Bend and $80 million of repairs needed. Some city officials argue the 5-cent per gallon fuel tax is the answer to the problem, but others disagree.

One night after they faced off live on NewsChannel 21, Mayor Jim Clinton and City Councilor Victor Chudowsky went head-to-head on the gas tax debate Tuesday evening during the City Club meeting at St. Charles Bend.

Both Clinton and Chudowsky agree that the roads need to be fixed. However, they can’t seem to agree on how to pay for it.

“If we pass the gas tax, we’re going to have to be doing what the state has been doing and raise it every few years,” Chudowsky said.

Chudowsky is encouraging voters to vote no on the gas tax. He argues that the tax won’t stay at 5 cents per gallon for long. He says that as cars become more fuel efficient, the city will have to raise the gas tax to keep up with inflation.

Clinton is hoping voters vote yes on the gas tax. He says it’s not fair the Bend residents must pay at the pump elsewhere, but tourists gets a free ride on city streets.

Apparently, at least one voter was convinced to vote yes by what he heard.

“The city of Portland is charging 13 cents to fill up over there, but we’re not charging Portland residents when they come here. We need to do that,” said Sam Johnson of Bend.

Chudowsky said likes the idea of taxing tourists, but argues a tourism (added room) tax would be more effective than a gas tax.

With just a few days until the ballot deadline, Bend residents still remain divided. Just over 35 percent of voters had returned their ballots as of Tuesday.

The deadline for ballots to be received is Tuesday March 8 at 8 p.m., but this Wednesday is the last day election officials say they can be mailed and assured of getting there. Drop boxes are located at the Deschutes County offices at 13000 Wall Street and the county Road Department on Southeast 27th Street.