To Yamhill County Commissioners re: Measure 37 Claims

(To lewisl@co.yamhill.or.us, georgek@co.yamhill.or.us, sternm@co.yamhill.or.us;
cc:dbates@newsregister.com, gallen@eaglenewspapers.com)

Although our Yamhill County has only about 2-3% of the Oregon population, we have one of the highest rates of Measure 37 claims so far.  Many Measure 37 claims are turning out not to be the simple desire to put a home on a farm property as some expected, but subdivisions of varying size.  Either providing waivers, or paying claims affects not only neighbors but also taxpayers -- construction, new roads, water & sewer, utilities, future demands on schools, wells, fire protection, police, etc.

A waiver resulting in taxpayer-provided services could result in either increased taxes or reduced services in order to pay the public costs -- effectively making taxpayers subsidize the Measure 37 claimants profit-making efforts.

Good government by and for the people requires open government and public involvement and these potentially affect all our taxes and/or services and deserve public hearings in which the public costs and benefits can be considered.  This is especially true of a complex, unclear new law without good guidance on how to evaluate and process these in a fair manner.