Jenny Kamprath for Washington County Commissioner, District 1 On The Issues

• Transparency to the public about how their tax dollars are being spent
• No overspending and running in the red as is currently being done
• No raising taxes to cover overspending

Performing a thorough budget review is imperative to identify areas of wasteful spending and reassess staff levels. Drawing from my experience as a former business owner and sales leader, I understand the importance of closely monitoring financial metrics and adapting budgets to changing needs. It's concerning that the county consistently operates at a deficit, running millions of dollars in the red year after year. This trend raises the specter of potential tax hikes to cover the overspending.

I am committed to staunchly advocating for measures to rein in this fiscal irresponsibility. By conducting a comprehensive examination of the budget, we can pinpoint inefficiencies and unnecessary expenditures. Additionally, reassessing staff levels ensures that resources are allocated efficiently and effectively. Through diligent oversight and prudent decision-making, we can work towards balancing the county's budget and mitigating the need for burdensome tax increases.

• Streamline regulations and bureaucratic hurdles to expedite building
• Control and manage excessive land development taxes
• Open more land for building

Collaborating with Metro to expand the urban growth boundary is imperative for our county's future. With its natural beauty and allure, our county continues to draw in new residents each year. However, it's essential to balance this growth with the preservation of our agricultural and open lands. We must adopt a forward-thinking approach to urban planning, focusing on long-term solutions rather than short-sighted fixes. For example, the massive apartment complexes being built on Cooper Mountain, These units are built with one half parking space per unit, and there is no mass transit or walkable amenities for residents This means more traffic, more gridlock, and more problems down the road due to a short-sighted plan to take a quick win in providing units.

A diverse range of housing options needs to be developed to accommodate the evolving needs of our community. Excessive fees and regulatory hurdles imposed on builders only serve to inflate costs, which are ultimately passed on to buyers and renters. By streamlining regulations and reducing fees, we can foster a more conducive environment for housing development. This, coupled with an increased availability of housing options, has the potential to alleviate some of the pricing pressures in the market.

• Establish Real programs to deter recidivism and drug use
• Placing homeless pods in suitable non-residential areas

I've navigated the realms of drug use and homelessness firsthand, lending me a perspective that can't be gleaned without such experiences. Within this sphere, numerous programs and organizations operate. However, from my personal encounters, it's evident that many of these entities primarily prioritize financial gain. Once they secure funding, they often become unaccountable, and only a fraction of their clientele achieve positive outcomes. Portland serves as a stark illustration that the proliferation of programs and organizations within the drug and homeless support sector doesn't necessarily correlate with success or amelioration of the issues at hand. Drawing from my own encounters, I advocate for a pragmatic approach, one that tackles the problem at its core and fosters tangible solutions.

Homeless pods DO NOT belong in residential neighborhoods.

Oregonians already shoulder a hefty tax burden, surpassing that of nearly every other state in the nation. Over the past decade, the state government has ballooned, doubling in size, and stretching resources thin. Yet, instead of addressing this issue, there's a continuous push to introduce new taxes to fund the burgeoning bureaucracy. As a resident of this county, I share your sentiments. I staunchly oppose tolling or any further taxation on the populace.