Earlier this month, Gov. Tina Kotek threatened to veto $14 million in state funding for seven local infrastructure projects across Oregon unless they could clearly show they would result in new housing development. Last week, she announced that no line-item vetoes would be made to the projects state lawmakers had already approved funding for during this year’s short legislative session. Shady Cove, a city of roughly 3,200 residents in Jackson County, was one of the municipalities the governor’s office requested additional information from. According to Mayor John Ball, the city wants to use the $1.5 million it was awarded to develop a municipal water system, which he says is essential for new housing development. Mayor Ball joins us to talk about the status of the project, and to reveal the challenges rural communities in Oregon face to build more housing.
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