March Agenda

03/22/2026 Proposed March Meeting Agenda
 
OPENING/FLAG SALUTE
ROLL CALL
MINUTES
DRAPING OF THE CHARTER
PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP 
WELCOME CEREMONY
COMMITTEE REPORTS:
 
HALL REPORT – Hall Projects (in priority order):
Couple of dining room benches getting wobbly
Bathroom exhaust fans
Remove old meter base and patch roof
Insulate crawl space under bathrooms (1/2 done)
Northeast side roof needs additional screws
Kitchen counters need refinished
Kitchen needs exhaust hood and fan
Repainting or siding replacement needed.  NE and NW sides and under eves of hall
 
Two paid rentals scheduled.  Chaps, Zumba and Bridge City Soccer have long term contracts.
 
EDUCATION  -  The 2026 Oregon education budget is defined by a significant, multi-million dollar funding shortfall despite retaining the record 11.4 billion budget approved in 2025.  School districts like Bend-La Pine and Portland Public Schools plan major cuts in staff and services for the 2026–27 school year. Inflation, rising costs, particularly Salaries are driving a crisis particularly in schools with declining enrollment, which reduces state funding.
 
LEGISLATIVE –  SB 1507, which partially disconnects Oregon from the federal tax code and tax cuts in H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill), passed both chambers earlier in the session. While this bill was opposed by most of the business community, due to its impact on business competitiveness (disconnects from bonus depreciation in H.R. 1), passage of SB 1507 raised approximately $300 million in new revenue to fund current programs.
 
SB 1599 (transportation tax referral rescheduling) passed late in February on a party line vote. This measure moves the transportation tax package Referendum Petition 2026-302 from November to May 2026. The Governor subsequently signed the measure, and on March 3rd, gas tax referendum leaders announced plans to sue Secretary of State Tobias Read over it.  The judge in that case ruled for the State and unless that ruling is successfully appealed the initiative will appear on the May ballot.
 
SB 1586 – Hillsboro super siting bill has been voted down.  Hillsboro and their clients will have to follow the rules.
 
AGRICULTURE –  The Short Legislative Session adjourned Friday, March 6th, two days before the Constitutional end of session. Legislators found themselves in a better budget position than originally anticipated. Despite early warnings of significant budget shortfalls, cuts to the 2025- 2027 biennium budget were minimal. The agricultural community was able to secure $1.8 million to combat Japanese Beetle; FFA programs retained their funding; and the OSU Statewides (Extension Service, Ag Experiment Station, and Forest Research Lab) avoided cuts. USDA Wildlife Services also retained funding through the Oregon Department of Agriculture, which should help prevent cuts to depredation management.
 
DEAF AND BLIND - Roberta
 
SCHOLARSHIP COMMITTEE – JoAnn 
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE – JoAnn - 
 
COMMUNICATIONS –  Betty   
 
POMONA REPORT  -  Cookie booth sign up site is live.  Email me at [email protected] or go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0448AAAF28A7F9CF8-62894851-cookie Volunteers needed to make and freeze dough and also to bake cookies during the fair.  Proceeds go toward operating Pomona Grange and to scholarships.
 
TREASURERS REPORT  - Vicki
 
BILLS – Dan
 
Floor detergent           $9.99
Wood Preservative    $49.99
Pipe insulation            $4.99
_______________________________
 Total                           $64.97                                                       
 
UNFINSHED BUSINESS: 
Sunnyside Grange celebration April 12 @ 2PM – Anyone want to car pool?
Ag Fest – sign up reminder for April 25 or 26.   Call OSG office to sign up (503-316-0106)
 
NEW BUSINESS:  
Sponsor debate/info session for gas tax bill?  Election day is May 19, ballots mailed April 29.
 
MEMBERS SICK OR IN DISTRESS: 
 
GOOD OF THE ORDER:   Violence is the last refuge of incompetence.  Isaac Asimov, author
 
NEXT MEETING 
Regular time – 3:30 April 26?
 
CLOSING