Betsy Johnson

State. Sen. Betsy Johnson, D-Scappoose, represents Senate District 16 in the Oregon Legislature. Johnson is a co-chair of the Legislature’s Joint Committee on Ways and Means.

In Medford, the cost of a vehicle emissions test is $10. In Portland, however, that same test, which consists of an inspector simply plugging a cable into the car’s diagnostic system, costs $21. Why? The Department of Environmental Quality hasn’t said.

But DEQ does say that now, even $21 per car is no longer enough, despite years of surpluses that the agency accumulated from such inspection fees. Why? Because personnel costs have gone up. DEQ is preparing a request that the Legislature allow it to increase the vehicle inspection fees it can charge in both Medford and Portland.

In my opinion, legislators should turn DEQ down and remind the agency of a longstanding state law requiring it to consider the experience of other states and determine the most cost-effective way to operate the emissions-testing program – including contracting out the work if it would result in savings to the public. DEQ hasn’t done that sufficiently.

Other states have found better, more cost-effective ways to operate vehicle inspection programs: More than 95 percent of vehicle emission tests across the nation are conducted by private businesses, because the other states have determined contracting out provides more service for less money. For example, Washington’s fee for exactly the same test is $15 and its contracted inspection stations are open six days per week compared to Oregon’s five days (and only two days at the Scappoose station in my district). Tucson, Arizona’s inspection fee is only $12.25, and its contracted stations are open 64 hours per week compared to Oregon’s 42 hours a week (just 13 ½ hours in Scappoose).

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While DEQ has done some cost analysis, it does not appear that the agency has done a rigorous enough comparison of methods and services to follow the legal requirement of determining cost effectiveness. DEQ should at the very least be checking with contractors to evaluate if they could effectively test vehicles for less money here in Oregon. Yet, DEQ is asking its commission this week to increase the fees.

And that means it will be asking the Legislature to approve the new fees in 2020. Among other increases, DEQ plans to hike the fee in the Portland area to $25, and double Medford’s fee to $20. As one of the Legislative Ways and Means Co-Chairs, I review every state agency budget. No other state agency sets a different fee in different Oregon communities for the exact same service.

DEQ has yet to demonstrate it needs any fee hike. Anything short of the agency seeking bids from contractors does not legitimately ascertain the most cost-effective method. This would allow DEQ to demonstrate if its requested fee increase is the best for Oregon or if a contractor could do it for perhaps half of what DEQ charges.

I will ask my colleagues to join me in 2020 in opposing any fee increases until the agency proves that it is operating the most cost-effective program, as required by law.