Fellow Oregonians

Below is a starting concept of a Constitutional Amendment designed to reaffirm that our fuel tax dollars get to where the People want them to go: Roads, Bridges, and large projects such as the Columbia River Bridge replacement: Nothing else.

Please keep in mind that this is the first pass and for now, this is mostly an outline. Your input on converting this to “Constitution Speak” will be welcome.

I grew up in Oregon. My father would take the family on occasional road trips. On several occasions, we were all bouncing around in family station wagon. There was a genuine relief when we saw the “Welcome to Oregon” signs. The bouncing stopped, the road was smooth, and we could all relax and enjoy the trip again.

For most of my life, Oregon has had a “Spirit” of good roads, well maintain roads, and transportation projects done with the future requirements of travel and business in mind. We all need the return of that “Spirit” to Oregon’s roads. The “Spirit” that Salem is selling away from Oregon’s future. The “Spirit” that made Oregon’s roads Great.

This is the kind of action Oregon needs. This is the kind of legislation I will deliver.
Vote for Bob Niemeyer for District 25, Tigard-Metzger-Beaverton

Transportation Amendment
Draft 06/19/2026

1. Amends by Replacing Oregon Constitution Article IX, Section 3a:
2. Establishes a Secretary of Transportation that reports to the Oregon Treasurer.
3. Establishes a set of required cash flow of Fuel Revenues to County Commissioners for control and use for road maintenance, new construction, and creates required savings toward future projects that cross State and County boundaries.
4. Establishes a set of required savings for future projects that require large expenditures on the State level.
5. Raise awareness of the County Commissioners and their fiscal responsibilities over the use of our fuel tax dollars.

Under Article IX:

Section 3a: Secretary of Transportation, Revenue, and collection

1. Use of revenues from fuel taxes paid at the pump or paid to the State on a per mile basis shall be exclusively used on construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance, operation and use of public highways, roads, streets and roadside rest areas in this state. Fuel based revenues shall not be used for mass transit, light rail, City sidewalks, or any other form of transportation that uses the roads or specially constructed vehicles. Light Rail, busses, or any other specially constructed vehicles are the responsibility of the Counties and requires consent of the voters. 
2. A Secretary of Transportation shall be established under the State Treasurer.
   1. The State Treasurer shall appoint and the Senate shall approve the applicant.
   2. The Secretary of Transportation shall have the sole authority over the collection of Revenues and their distribution. 
   3. The Secretary of Transportation shall serve for a maximum of six years from the time of taking office and a maximum of ten lifetime years. The time in office shall not be linked to any calendar. 
   4. The Secretary of Transportation shall report Revenues collected and distributed to each County the fourth month of every year to the Legislature and the Public.
   5. The Secretary of Transportation shall establish locations for future savings accounts that are not under the control or part of any kind of State investments. 

Section 3b. The Secretary of Transportation shall

1. An absolute maximum of 1% of all revenues collected shall be allotted to the collection of said revenues. Any and all costs above that 1% shall come from the General Fund.
2. The Secretary of Transportation shall put 10% of revenues into a savings account not held by the State and not used in conjunction of any form of State held retirement funds or investments. 
   1. The Secretary of Transportation shall have the sole authority to release and direct funds for and to large construction cost that:
      1. Cross State boundaries.
      2. New road construction that crosses three or more Counties.
      3. New bridge construction that crosses rivers and valleys greater than ½ mile.
   2. The Secretary of Transportation shall have the sole authority to release the remaining 89% of fuel revenues back to each County Treasurer where the fuels were consumed. 
      1. The County Treasure shall be the sole authority to distribute funds for used on construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance, operation and use of public highways, roads, and streets. 
      2. Fuel based revenues shall not be used for mass transit, light rail, City Sidewalks, or any other form of transportation that uses the roads or specially constructed vehicles.

Section 3c.

1. County Commissioners shall have the sole responsibility of deciding how and where fuel tax revenues are allocated for use on construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance, operation and use of public highways, roads, streets.
2. Fuel based revenues shall not be used for mass transit, light rail, or any other form of transportation that uses the roads or specially constructed vehicles. Each County Treasurer shall report each sixth month of every calendar year the list of County projects, funding for said projects, and total accumulated in the requires savings.
3. The County Treasurer shall be in charge of bidding and contracts. (not Salem)
   1. The County Treasurer shall release the funds for transportation projects as needed.
   2. The County Treasurer shall place in savings accounts, not under control of the State, 10% of what is given to the County for projects that may need higher funds to cross County boundaries or natural boundaries such as rivers or valley or creation of new roads.

Section 3d. Legislative Oversite

1. The Legislature shall have oversite as to the amount of fuel tax collected from consumption and per mile basis.
2. The legislature shall not control or vary the amount returned to the Counties.
3. The Legislature shall conduct an independent audit of fuel based and per mile revenues collected and distributed to the Counties every fourth year for each County. The Legislature shall define which Counties shall be audited each year. Every County shall be audited with a maximum of six years between audits.
4. Changing the levels of revenues or the allocations thereof shall require a Vote of the People.
5. The Legislature shall not collateralize, borrow funds, sell bonds, or raise funds for any form of road construction, reconstruction, improvement, repair, maintenance, operation and use of public highways, roads, or streets.
   1. The Legislature shall make no law that tolls the use of any road, bridge, or any other new construction for its use.
   2. The Savings in Section 3b above shall be used first to cover large projects.
   3. For Large projects, fuel tax increases at the pump within a 50-mile radius will be the only way to fund projects the exhaust the Savings in Section 3b.
6. The legislature shall set priorities for large projects in the State. The Legislature shall not have control over the use of funds in the hands of the Counties and Cities. All funds held by the Secretary of Transportation, County treasurers, and City treasurers are not subject to Emergency use unless that use is for repair of roads and bridges damaged in a natural disaster.
7. Counties are subject to audits every third year by the Treasurer. 8 to 16 counties shall be audited every third year allowing for size and location of each County. All funds to conduct the audits shall come from the 10% held by the State.
8. Philanthropy by private citizens shall pass through to the City, County, or State it was intended to go to, shall not be considered as On-Going revenues, and shall be held in savings until needed.
9. Any form of corruption such as kickbacks, failing to use the funds on the project, or excessive waste shall be punishable by lifetime removal from office and filing criminal charges as defined by Law.

“The People’s future is more important than the government’s future.”

Bob Niemeyer