Special Report: Child care industry
Nonprofit Guide 2021
NONPROFIT GUIDE 2021 Presented by The Chronicle & The Chief
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FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2021
VOL. 129, NO. 42 Serving the Lower Columbia Region since 1891
Clatskanie, Rainier population rising slightly in the five-county area, and the only complete metropolitan area. It also has accounted for 58% of the growth in Benton County since 2010. The next largest “city” in Benton County isn’t a city itself; it’s an area commonly called North Albany and is part of the city of Albany, which lies mostly in Linn County. Preliminary population estimates for 2020 aren’t yet available for North Albany so its population is the estimate for 2019. The area had 8,255 residents in 2019, adding 1,792 people since 2010. North Albany is also the fastest growing part of Benton County, averaging 2.5% per year since 2010.
JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
Clatskanie’s estimated population rose to 1,795, gaining 58 people since the 2010 census and Rainier has gained 45 people with a current population of 1,940, according to a new state report. St. Helens leads Columbia County cities in population, at 13,915, with Scappoose second at 7,360, Columbia City’s population is at 1,980, Vernonia at 2,110 and Prescott at 55, according to the report by Oregon Employment Regional Economist Erik Knoder. St. Helens gained 1,032 new residents with Scappoose gaining 768. The largest influx was in the unincorporated areas of the county at 2,033 for a total estimated current population of 24,125. Vernonia saw a decrease in population of 41 people since the 2010 census. Most of Columbia County’s population increase has been concentrated in its southern portion, such as Scappoose and St. Helens, where commuting distances to the core Portland job market are shorter, and in unincorporated parts of the county. Knoder said unincorporated areas of Columbia County account for 52% of the growth in the county since 2010. About 45% of the county’s population resides in unincorporated areas. Most of Columbia County’s population is on the flat bottomlands next to the Columbia River. The only major interior community is Vernonia, located in the southwest portion of the county. Vernonia has experienced a drop in population since 2010, probably due in part to a large flood the town experienced. Despite being hit hard by the Great Recession, Knoder said Colum-
Clatsop County
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The Columbia River is one of the attractions helping boost population and commerce growth in Clatskanie, Rainier and across most of the county.
bia County has been adding people at a good clip. “Columbia’s population growth is fueled by its proximity to the rest of the Portland metropolitan area,” Knoder said. “Housing in the county is typically much less expensive than in adjoining Washington County, which is attractive to commuters.” Columbia County’s population grew by 530 in 2020, about 300 less than in 2019. This was still more people than any other county in the region. Northwest Oregon numbers The population of Northwest
Oregon, including Columbia, Clatsop, Tillamook, Lincoln and Benton counties, increased by 1,035 to an estimated 262,235 in 2020. The average annualized growth rate since 2010 has been 0.7%, similar to the prior decade and much slower than the 1.5% annual growth during the 1990s. Growth in the region has slipped back to similar numbers in 2012 when the region was starting to recover from the Great Recession. Knoder said the population growth appears tied to the economic performance in the region. The region grew by 2,000 or more people each year from 2005 through 2007. It slowed as immigration slowed during the recession and
early recovery. In 2014 population growth jumped by 1,900 and growth had been more than that every year until 2020. All five counties in Northwest Oregon have been growing over the long run and are expected to continue doing so, Knoder’s report states. Benton County Benton County (aka the Corvallis Metropolitan Area) provided 36% of the area’s total population and 29% of the growth in 2020. The county’s resident population increased by 305 in 2020. Corvallis is by far the largest city
Clatsop County had the fastest growth of the three non-metro counties in Northwest Oregon, but growth slowed abruptly in 2019 and remained low in 2020. The county added only 125 residents in 2019, the smallest gain since 2013. The county has had an average growth rate of 0.6% since 2010, slower than Benton County (1.0%) and slower than Columbia County (0.8%). The county’s population is older on average than Columbia County and relies more on migration for population growth. Clatsop County’s fastest growing city has been Warrenton, which is on the coast and has land for development. But even Warrenton’s growth has averaged only 0.7% since 2010. Astoria has been hampered by a shortage of buildable land. More than one-third of this county’s population resides in unincorporated areas and unincorporated areas account for twothirds of the county’s growth since See POPULATION Page A8
State revenues up, ‘kicker’ possible half of the biennium, Oregon’s general fund revenue outlook was inches away from the 2% kicker threshold when the pandemic hit. “After filling all of the recessionary hole, the March 2021 forecast calls for collections to exceed the threshold by $170 million (0.9%), resulting in a kicker credit of $571 million. However, this kicker credit is far from a sure thing. With one more tax season left in the biennium, much uncertainty remains.” Under Oregon law, if state revenues come in above 2% of initial projections some personal tax collections are returned to residents. Reaction
Courtesy photo
Oregonians could share in a $571 million kicker rebate due to the surging state economy, according to the latest Oregon revenue forecast released at the state capitol in Salem Wednesday, Feb. 24. JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The latest state revenue forecast gives hope that Oregon’s financial affairs are brighter. “The economy is emerging from a dark winter. The resurgent virus of a few months ago is in full retreat. The outlook brightens with every inoculation,” the forecast summary reads, stating that following a booming first
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Gov. Kate Brown said the revenue forecast brings good news. “Even with this good news, it is important to move forward cautiously, as the road ahead remains unpredictable,” Brown said. “We also know that many Oregonians are still struggling with job losses, underemployment, and making ends meet.” Oregon House Speaker Tina Kotek released a statement following the release of the financial report saying the positive revenue forecast is good news for the state’s budgetary efforts. “However, I’m troubled by the disconnect these numbers and the economic pain on the ground for so many Oregonians,” Kotek said. Senate Republican Leader Fred Girod also issued a statement about the quarterly state revenue forecast. “I prefer to focus on the revenue coming into Oregonians’ bank accounts,” he said. “The reality is that 150,000 Oregonians have been put out of work because of the pandemic and the economic lockdowns. Tens of thousands are struggling to make rent, afford child care, and put food on the table.” Girod said the revenue forecast indicates that the state has taken in over $800 million in excess revenue. “The state has been bailed out by the federal government,” he said. “We are looking at billions more coming our way in the coming weeks from Congress and the Biden Administration. According to Girod, the Oregon Legislature should not be considering new taxes or rolling back COVID relief. See REVENUE Page A3
Jeremy C. Ruark / The Chief
The Clatskanie School District will ask voters in May to approve a plan to separate middle and high school spaces at this building as well as fund other renovations.
Voters to decide on $10m school bond JEREMY C. RUARK jruark@countrymedia.net
The Clatskanie School District will seek voter approval of a $10 million general obligation bond measure to conduct renovations to Clatskanie Middle/High school and at Clatskanie Elementary School. The funding issue will be on the May 18 election ballot. If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution, according to the ballot measure statement. The measure also reads that the Clatskanie School District has been awarded a $4,000,000 state grant, which will be available only if the bonds are approved. The funding would cover: • Renovating and constructing Clatskanie Middle/High School (CMHS) to separate middle and high school spaces • Upgrading Clatskanie Middle/ High School auditorium to industry standards for school and community use • Safety and security improvements, including controlled entry, at Clatskanie Elementary School (CES) and Clatskanie Middle/High School • Renovating, furnishing, replacing, improving, remodeling district facilities, including plumbing, electrical, HVAC, roofing, internal/external finishes, and parking/driveway areas
• Pay bond issuance costs In the following conversation with The Chief, Clatskanie School Superintendent Cathy Hurowitz gives insight into this funding measure. The Chief: What is your overall vision that the $10 million in school building renovations would do for students’ ability to learn, and teachers and school staff ability to teach, and the districts efforts for safety? Hurowitz: The overall vision is to physically separate the middle school students from the high school students without building an additional facility. We are also focused on the safety and security of our buildings. The vision includes a redesign of the front entry ways of both CMHS and CES to provide a line of sight for anyone entering our buildings and a security system. We want to bring our CMHS auditorium up to current standards so that it can be better used by our schools and community. We have aging HVAC systems that need to be replaced and our buildings need new roofs. The Chief: Could you give us the financial breakdown of the specific areas where the $10 million would be spent and why those areas? Hurowitz: I have included a slide. (See attached to this story). The slide does not include the $4 million in matching funds and only lists the priorities.
The Chief: You discussed the need for additional security at the schools following the threat incidents at the middle/high school and at the elementary school last year. Specifically, what security is needed and where? Hurowitz: See Question 1. We also need security at our bus garage as our busses have been vandalized. We will redesign the schools entrances for line of sight and install a security system. Right now anyone can enter the buildings and reception staff is not able to see who is coming in until they are physically in the building. We need to have a system where we can see who is coming in as well as be able to go into immediate lockdown of all doors. The Chief: How is the district working to inform voters of the need for the successful passage of this bond in May? Community meetings planned, when, where? Hurowitz: Once we get through our 7 day waiting period we will schedule community meetings to share Bond information and answer questions. We will also put out FAQ sheets and use social media to share information. The Chief: Would the district website/Facebook have an area dedicated to patrons’ questions and the administrators’ answers about See BOND Page A6