PORTLAND – An Oregon Capitol News study found that Oregon governmental entities owe more than $3 billion for past health care expenses for government workers.

So far these units of government have set aside only $237 million to pay for the expenses, leaving a $2.8 billion debt. Broken down by Oregon full-year income tax filers in 2008, each taxpayer would have to forfeit $1,758.36 to pay off the debt.

PORTLAND – On Wednesday the TriMet board of directors approved a series of resolutions to move the Milwaukie light rail project forward, totaling $947 million.

Resolutions authorizing $722 million in bonds were at the top of the agenda. Chief among the bonds were $500 million of revenue bonds for interim financing. The other $222 million came from capital grant receipt revenue bonds of $159 million and payroll tax revenue bonds of $63 million.

PORTLAND – The big item on TriMet’s agenda Wednesday was the approval of an implementation statement for the controversial Portland-Milwaukie light rail project. The real fireworks came from an item not on the agenda as the off-topic testimony broke down into a yelling match between TriMet’s union head and the chair of the board.

The Amalgamated Transit Union 757 (ATU) president, Jonathan Hunt, gave testimony at the end of the regular board meeting during the public forum in which he accused TriMet of breaking labor laws.

PORTLAND – A new database published on GovDocs shows 24 TriMet bus operators, 6 max operators and 1 streetcar operator received compensation valued in the six figures in 2009.

The compensation figure includes salary, dental insurance and health insurance as well as several other smaller fringe benefits. Compensation not included in the figures are pension benefits and other postemployment benefits (OPEB), the latter of which exceeded $800 million in unfunded liabilities earlier this year, mostly comprised of retiree medical insurance obligations.