Thursday, October 1, 2026 / Oakridge
Oakridge voters will choose how to pay for the same ambulance service
The November measure would replace a $17 monthly water-bill fee with a five-year property tax; the city says service continues either way.
Oakridge's November ambulance question is less about whether the ambulance keeps running than about which bill carries the cost. The proposed five-year local option tax would charge $1.64 per $1,000 of assessed property value beginning in July 2027. City officials estimate it would raise about $350,000 a year and replace the current $17 monthly ambulance fee on water bills.
KLCC reported that a median assessed-value home would pay about $184 a year, or $15.31 a month, under the tax. The shift also changes who is billed directly: the utility fee reaches water customers, including renters when landlords pass it through, while the property tax lands on owners. City Administrator James Cleavenger said ambulance service will continue if the measure fails; the $17 fee would remain. Check the official voters' pamphlet when it arrives for the complete ballot language and arguments.
Field notes
What changed: A newly reported Oakridge ballot measure would swap the city's monthly ambulance utility fee for a five-year property tax starting in July 2027.
Why it matters: Oakridge is roughly 45 miles from Springfield and maintains its own ambulance service; the vote changes who pays directly and how the revenue is collected.
Who may be affected: Oakridge voters, property owners, water customers and residents who depend on local emergency medical response.