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During my time on the Lake Oswego City Council, I was known as a staunch budget hawk. With my fiscal leadership, we were able to fund our priorities without raising anyone’s taxes. We dramatically reduced our unfunded liability for road maintenance, rebuilt our operations and maintenance center, and rebuilt city hall and the police station – all without asking for an extra dime from our residents. This is the kind of leadership we need at the state level. Instead of simply adding programs and bureaucracy without regard to cost, we must ask ourselves, “If we want to fund something new, what can we live without?”

Oregon can do more with the revenue that we already have – without raising anyone’s taxes. How we manage our finances determines what we can afford: roads, schools, bridges – even PERS. As an experienced treasurer and analyst, I can offer reliable management of our state’s finances to help put our state back on strong financial footing. I have been Treasurer of the Legacy Emanuel Hospital Foundation, USA Olympic Swimming, and two subsidiaries of Northwest Natural Gas. I’ve also worked as an analyst and investor for more than thirty years. I have the experience to make educated and wise decisions – and when need be – the fortitude to make tough choices.

Our PERS system is unnecessarily complicated to administer. We can trim the administrative costs to make the program more affordable while keeping our obligations to state retirees.

We need to move audit functions of the treasurer’s office to the Oregon Investment Council – for both independence and objectivity, as well as cost savings from the current model of using outside consultants. We also need to regain the public’s trust by restoring the treasurer’s website to give citizens access to information that has been concealed since the current treasurer took office.

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White Papers

March, 2024 – Jeff Gudman

OPINION: Transportation Priorities Reconsidered

The purpose of a transportation system is to safely facilitate the movement of people, goods, and services from one location to another. It plays a crucial role in connecting different regions, enabling economic activities, and promoting social interactions.
February, 2024 – Jeff Gudman

OPINION: The Kicker Reconsidered

Oregon’s “Kicker” law was passed by the Legislature in 1979, supported by voters in 1980, and finally enshrined in our State Constitution as Measure 86 in 2000. Oregon’s tax kicker law is a unique feature among U.S. states that automatically triggers a refund to taxpayers when the state collects more revenue than anticipated.
February, 2024 – Jeff Gudman

OPINION: Property Taxes

A lot has been said about what needs to happen to incentivize the construction of new housing in Oregon, but less has been said about the fact that adjustments to existing systems and policies can incentivize new construction without over relying on financial subsidies, land grabs, or a loss of environmental protection
December, 2023 – Jeff Gudman

OPINION: To Toll or Not to Toll, That is the Question

A first-rate quality of life requires a first-rate transportation infrastructure. Building and rebuilding roads, bridges and other pieces of infrastructure can transform economies, strengthen social connections and improve a region’s overall quality of life.
Pub. TUE, 11 January 2022 13:00

TOLLING AND DIVERSION IS COMING

Diversion is coming, diversion is coming. Ready or not, like it or not, believe it or not, pave first – pay later tolling (in whatever format that may be) on I-205 and I-5 and diversion is coming to our city, county and region. Tolling has benefits, it also has costs.
Pub. Mon, 13 December 2021 13:00

The Power of Not Knowing

What’s happening in Stafford? it is a divided question. On the other hand is the belief that the cost of infrastructure is so high that significant, urban development will occur elsewhere, like what is happening now in South Hillsboro. The Stafford area will remain much as it is.
Pub. Tue, 01 Jul 2014 00:01

Public Safety Building – The Time is Now

The City Council can potentially fund the vitally needed Police/911/LOCOM (Lake Oswego Communications) facility within existing resources.  The following vision for building and financing the Police/911/LOCOM (Lake Oswego Communications) addresses 1) why the facility needs to be built and 2) how it can be paid for within existing resources. Why – The existing facility is: Seismically unsafe. 
Pub. Fri, 11 Apr 2014 19:41

Building Our Operations/Maintenance Center

City Council can potentially fund the Operations/Maintenance Facility within existing resources.  Funding the Operations/Maintenance Facility is one the highest 2014 Council goals.  There is nuance and trade-offs, but there is a way forward. How to fund the project?  Value engineering, phasing and a variety of resources provide a path forward for this needed, core earthquake resistant
Pub. Wed, 15 Jan 2014 19:15

Financing Our Future – Part 3

The City Council can potentially fund the Police/911/LOCOM (Lake Oswego Communications) facility and operations/maintenance center within existing resources.  Let’s discuss the Police facility.  Our police department provides 911 dispatch services for our police, fire and public works departments as well as for several other cities and districts.  There is nuance and trade-offs, but there is
Pub. Tue, 17 Dec 2013 18:30

Financing Our Future – Part 2

The City Council can potentially fund the maintenance/operations center and LOCOM/Police/911 within existing resources. The operations/maintenance center and LOCOM/Police/911 are part of the overall picture. There is nuance and trade-offs, but there is a way forward. This month, let’s discuss the maintenance/operations center. The operations/maintenance facility needs replacement. The operations/maintenance building was
Pub. Mon, 25 Nov 2013 21:05

Financing our Future – Part 1

Financing our Future – Part 1 After several years of deliberation, voter actions in November 2012 (supporting Boones Ferry/Lake Grove redevelopment and not supporting the library bond measure), City Council decisions in October 2013 (moving forward potentially selling the West End Building) and direction to staff to develop means of financing the needed work for LOCOM/Police/911

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