By Brad Hicks
It’s no secret that Oregon has a housing affordability crisis – and this graphic illustrates one reason why.
It estimates that permits, impact fees and plan review for a typical Oregon home can cost more than pouring and finishing the foundation itself.
Of course, new housing requires roads, water, sewer and other public infrastructure. Those are legitimate needs. But we should ask whether loading so much of that cost onto the next homebuyer is making the housing shortage even worse.
My ABC’s offer a pretty straightforward test:
Affordability means recognizing that every government-imposed cost ultimately shows up in someone’s mortgage or rent.
Balance means providing necessary infrastructure and maintaining safety standards without pricing working families out of the market.
Common Sense means transparent fees, predictable approval timelines, fewer unnecessary delays and lower barriers for starter homes, workforce housing and projects built where infrastructure already exists.
Oregon needs more housing. We will not get it – or address our homeless issues – by making homes slower, harder and more expensive to build.
You cannot make housing more affordable by making housing less affordable to produce. Four more years of the supermajority’s status quo is not going to get the job done, which is why I’m running to serve you in the Oregon Senate.
Brad Hicks is the Republican nominee running to represent Oregon State Senate District 3. He formerly served as the president and CEO of the Chamber of Medford & Jackson County for 30 years.