Road Use Charge Program - Oregon

This post from 2015 examines the OReGo Road Use Charge Plan.
https://2dollarjefferson.blogspot.com/2015/02/road-use-charge-program-oregon.html

The official state government site:
http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Programs/Pages/OReGO.aspx

The non-government private organization site: "MyOrego.org"
http://www.myorego.org
http://www.myorego.org/blog/orego-per-mile-oregon-fuels-tax-rates-change-2018/

Cozy relationship between the state and the organization!

An update of the idea is at this solicitation for bids.  The name has changed and now the application is regional:
http://oregonprocurementsearch.com/details/3032

"Notice Summary
RUC West, a 14-state coalition focused on advancing research of road usage charges (RUC), in coordination with their contracting entity, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT), is seeking information from potential business partners who manufacture and supply road usage charging equipment and systems. This is a preliminary step, as ODOT intends to issue a subsequent formal Request for Proposal (RFP) and select one or more business partners for implementing a demonstration system in support of a Regional RUC Pilot, initially between Oregon and California but potentially expanding to other states in late 2018.

For this RFI, RUC West and ODOT are asking potential business partners to provide information relative to the equipment and services they could propose to support the RUC West Regional Pilot. RUC West intends to release a formal RFP for business partner equipment and services sometime late 2018."

RUC West
https://www.rucwest.org

"WHO WE ARE
RUC West brings together leaders from state transportation organizations to share best practices, ideas, and information on Road Usage Charge.

This group acts as a go-to source for anyone who has any interest in RUC. Whether watching the story unfold, or considering implementation of a Road Usage Charge, RUC West is the place to find a clear, factual, non-biased picture of how RUC has worked and is working in other states. RUC West also provides case studies, best practices, and the most up-to-date information on RUC available anywhere.

RUC West is a ONE-STOP SHOP for all road usage charge information."

Yes, but who is really RUC West?  An OReGo Zombie?
https://www.rucwest.org/projects/myorego-oregon-road-usage-charge/

A week ago I registered a new vehicle at the DMV in Bend.  Outside the entrance was someone collecting signatures on a State Initiative Petition.
This is a related website:
https://bendchamber.org/oregon-legislative/small-business-groups-support-measure-protect-oregonians-tax-fee-increases/
This is info on the State Initiative Petition;
http://egov.sos.state.or.us/elec/web_irr_search.record_detail?p_reference=20180031..ASCYYY.

https://ballotpedia.org/Oregon_Definition_of_Raising_Revenue_for_Three-Fifths_Vote_Requirement_Initiative_(2018)

Tax vs Fee:  This is a very sticky issue for those that will pay it!  Taken from this link state OreGo final report:
 http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/Programs/RUF/IP-Road%20Usage%20Evaluation%20Book%20WEB_4-26.pdf
"Additionally, unlike the nearly invisible gas tax, which is built into the cost-per-gallon that drivers pay when they purchase fuel, RUC is a tax that
users will see. It will necessitate some action on the part of the driver, such as writing a check, logging into an account, monitoring a device, or other actions. ODOT should consider ways in which it can streamline the collection of road usage fees to minimize the time and effort for drivers."

Business Model:
Shift the burden of the state collecting tax to the burden of a free private enterprise collecting a fee, taking its "Cut" as the fee collection agent and then passing what remains to the state of Oregon!