| SWCD services |
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| New district directors |
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New district directors (elected and appointed)
Article XV, Section 3 of the Oregon Constitution provides that “[E]very person elected or appointed to any office under this Constitution shall, before entering on the duties thereof, take an oath or affirmation to support the Constitution of the United States, and of this State, and also an oath of office.” All newly elected directors need to take the Oath of Office at the first SWCD meeting they attend following January 1, 2009.
1. Two copies of the Oath of Office are to be signed by:
- The elected or appointed director, and
- The SWCD board chair, a notary public, or other authorized official such as a county commissioner who is present at the swearing in of the director.
2. One copy of the Oath of Office is retained for your records.
3. One copy of the Oath of Office is to be mailed to:
Heather Rickenbach
Oregon Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Division
635 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97301
4. The newly elected or appointed director is to be sworn-in at a district board meeting. A director cannot assume the duties of the board position until the oath of office is signed and the director is sworn-in.
Note: For consistency, each SWCD should designate and authorize a person(s) to be the authorized signatory for the Oaths of Office. There is no requirement that the signatory be a notary public. The district board chair, or other official, can be designated to sign the oath.
Oath of Office form (25K doc)
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| Operations reviews |
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Building strong districts through good business practices, risk management and partner collaboration.
The Soil and Water Conservation Commission (SWCC) has encouraged ODA to increase the level of technical assistance and risk management consultation to Oregon’s 45 Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs). In a collaborative effort that includes the Oregon Association of Conservation Districts (OACD) and the Oregon Conservation Employees Association Network (OCEAN), ODA will implement a new process of annual SWCD operational reviews in 2006. This review process will build on previous trainings and support the concepts in the Oregon Soil and Water Conservation District Guidebook.
The objective of this process is to minimize risk and potential liability to directors, employees, boards and ODA while helping districts improve accountability and comply with laws and rules. Operational reviews will provide training, mentoring and consultation to expand district capacity and improve operations. The process will also identify future training needs, provide tools for improved performance, and recognize exceptional district accomplishments. The findings will guide future program enhancement recommendations.
Throughout the review cycle, ODA is committed to providing necessary follow-up with districts, making applicable tools and templates more readily available, and sharing successful district models.
Among the tools available online to help districts prepare are self-assessment worksheets. The elements selected as initial focal points for this annual process are:
For more information or to schedule an operational review, contact:
Karla Sanders SWCD Program Specialist ODA Natural Resources Division 635 Capitol St NE, Salem, OR 97301 503-986-4696 office, 503-508-3391 cell
ksanders@oda.state.or.us
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| Registered Office / Agent |
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Registered office and registered agent
ORS 198.340 requires conservation districts to designate a registered office and a registered agent:
ORS 198.340 Designation of registered office and agent
(1) A special district shall designate a registered office and a registered agent. The registered agent shall be an agent of the district upon whom any process, notice or demand required or permitted by law to be served upon the district may be served. A registered agent shall be an individual resident of this state whose address is identical with the registered office of the district. The registered office may be, but need not be, the same as the place of business of the special district. (2) The district may change its registered office or change its registered agent, or both, upon filing in the office of the Secretary of State and county clerk of each county in which located a statement setting forth: a) The name of the district.
b) If the address of its registered office is changed, the address to which the registered office is to be changed.
c) If its registered agent is changed, the name of its successor registered agent.
d) That the address of its registered office and the address of the business office of its registered agent, as changed, will be identical.
e) That such change was authorized by resolution duly adopted by the district board.
(3) The statement shall be subscribed and sworn to by the secretary, financial officer or chairperson of the district board. A copy of the registered office and agent information should be filed with the Secretary of State, county clerk, and to ODA, Natural Resources Division.
Oregon Secretary of State
Archives Division
800 Summer St.
Salem, OR 97310 | Oregon Department of Agriculture
Natural Resources Division
635 Capitol St. NE
Salem, OR 97301 |
Registered Office and Registered Agent form (98K doc)
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| SWCD taxing authority |
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Oregon Soil and Water Conservation Districts (SWCDs) have statutory authority to levy taxes with approval of local voters. As of January 2008, ten SWCDs in Oregon have received voter approval to assess local property taxes in the form of permanent tax rates. SWCDs with permanent tax rates established under Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS) 568.806-568.808, may levy taxes annually up to their established limits, provided the SWCD develops, adopts and approves their budget according to Oregon Local Budget Law requirements. SWCDs may also seek voter approval to assess property tax under ORS 568.803 for repayment of principal and interest of General Obligation Bonds (for capital construction).
The Oregon Department of Agriculture (ODA) provides information to SWCDs regarding steps, planning considerations, and legal requirements relating to local tax measure elections. Information is also available through the Oregon Department of Revenue, Special Districts Association of Oregon, and the Oregon Secretary of State office.
For more information contact:
Larry Ojua, SWCD Program Manager
ODA Natural Resources Division
635 Capitol St NE, Salem, OR 97301
Phone: 503 986-4705
E-mail: lojua@oda.state.or.us
Information and tools:
Oregon Revised Statutes (ORS):
568.803 General Obligation Bonds (32K pdf)
568.805 Special Assessments (32K pdf)
568.806 Ad Valorem Tax (36K pdf)
568.807 Electors Authorizing Taxation (36K pdf)
568.808 Filing Legal Description/Map (36K pdf)
SWCD ballot measures (SEL803 forms) submitted to county clerks:
Publications:
Tax Election Ballot Measures for SWCDs from the Oregon Department of Revenue (267K doc)
Tax Election Ballot Measures from the Oregon Department of Revenue (196K pdf)
Permanent Tax Rate Limits - Considerations for Measure Elections from the 2007 Oregon Association of Conservation Districts Annual Meeting (64K ppt)
Guide for Public Officials from the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (204K doc)
Additional links:
Oregon Department of Revenue (ODR)
ODR Local Budget Law
ODR Publications
Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO)
Oregon Secretary of State
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