Baker County Petition Seeks Voter Review of $4 Billion Plan
A petition drive described by the Baker City Herald on November 19, 2025 asked Baker County residents to help place a statewide transportation funding plan before Oregon voters, a measure that would create roughly four billion dollars in new taxes and fees for road and transportation projects. The effort matters locally because it foregrounds questions of local control over spending priorities, and could change how road maintenance and projects are funded across the county.
On November 19, 2025 the Baker City Herald reported on a local petition and organizing effort aimed at giving Oregon voters the opportunity to approve or reject a prospective statewide plan to raise approximately four billion dollars in new taxes and fees for road and transportation projects. Petitioners collected signatures in Baker County as part of a broader campaign to force a public vote on the measure.
Local signers included residents such as Julie Mespelt, whose participation was highlighted in the Herald coverage as representative of community members seeking a voter review of the proposal. The article explained that supporters framed the petition as a means to ensure that major funding decisions for roads and transportation face voter approval rather than being determined solely by state lawmakers or agencies.
The proposed measure would generate new revenues intended for road repair and transportation projects statewide. The Herald coverage outlined how petitioners in Baker County were gathering signatures and pointed readers to local collection points and informational resources for those who wanted to sign or learn more. Organizers in the county worked alongside similar efforts elsewhere in Oregon, making the petition part of a larger statewide organizing movement focused on transportation funding and local control.
For Baker County residents the debate touches practical concerns. Many in the county follow road maintenance closely because of weather related damage, freight routes, and the costs of travel for commuters and businesses. A voter approved funding plan could accelerate projects, but it could also introduce new taxes and fees that affect families and local enterprises. The petition campaign has made those trade offs more visible by seeking direct voter input.
The campaign also reflects broader themes in public policy debates about infrastructure funding, democratic accountability, and the balance between state level planning and local priorities. Residents who want to participate or get more information were advised by the Herald to consult the published list of signing locations and outreach events reported on November 19, 2025. As signatures continued to be gathered, the county awaited the results of the drive and potential placement of the measure before Oregon voters.
