Annexation Bill Would Give County Residents a Voice

STEVE LAW
Statesman Journal
April 27, 2007
Ron Taylor, who lives near Joe's on Lancaster Drive NE, wants the right to vote before Salem annexes his neighborhood into the city.
On Thursday, Taylor got what he wanted.
The House Agriculture and Natural Resources Committee voted unanimously to approve House Bill 3303, a bill sought by Rep. Brian Clem, D-Salem, on behalf of thousands of people who live east of Lancaster Drive. The bill gives residents in so-called "islands" the right to vote on proposed annexations, in cities that require voter approval of annexations.
The city of Salem has no imminent plans for large-scale annexations of unincorporated areas of East Salem.
"What he's trying to do is give us a voice," Taylor said of Clem's bill.
Taylor said he fears that Salem will try to acquire Cordon Road from Marion County, thus surrounding unincorporated territory with city lands. That creates an island of unincorporated territory inside the city. Islands are easier to annex under state law, and residents of the islands don't get to vote on proposed annexations.
Under HB 3303, people inside the city and the affected islands get to cast votes on proposed annexations.
Taylor worries that his property taxes will increase if Salem annexes his neighborhood, and he's content with services provided by the county and special districts.
"There isn't a single service the city has to offer me," he said.
Clem said forced annexation was a common fear of East Salem residents when he walked door-to-door in last year's campaign.
"They want to be able to vote," Clem said.
Salem City Manager Bob Wells said the city can't simply acquire Cordon Road to surround an island of unincorporated territory. That's because the city's urban growth boundary was deliberately drawn west of Cordon Road, to prevent that kind of tactic, he said.
However, the urban growth boundary, which includes unincorporated East Salem, is a reflection of the area where Salem intends to expand, Wells said.
"How long that takes, I don't know," he said.
The Salem City Council supported HB 3303, Wells said.