Photo: Finetooth / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0
A resident of Lincoln County can live under half a dozen local governments at once. The county, a city, a school district, a port, a fire district and a health district may all levy taxes and hold public meetings. Knowing which one handles a problem saves a lot of phone calls.
The county
Lincoln County is governed by a three-member Board of Commissioners that meets in Newport, the county seat. The board sets the county budget and oversees departments such as public health, planning for the unincorporated areas, roads outside city limits, the sheriff’s office budget, the jail and solid waste. Other county offices, including the sheriff, the district attorney, the assessor and the county clerk, are filled by election.
Seven cities
The county has seven incorporated cities: Lincoln City, Depoe Bay, Newport, Toledo, Siletz, Waldport and Yachats. Each has an elected council and handles its own zoning inside city limits, local streets, water and sewer service and, in the larger cities, police. Communities such as Otis, Gleneden Beach, Seal Rock and South Beach’s unincorporated pockets fall under county planning and the sheriff.
Ports and special districts
Three port districts serve the county: the Port of Newport on Yaquina Bay, the Port of Toledo upriver and the Port of Alsea in Waldport. Each has an elected commission. The Lincoln County School District runs public schools across the county. Fire protection, water, libraries, parks and the two hospital-related health districts are handled by separate special districts with their own boards.
Following decisions
Oregon’s public meetings law requires these bodies to post agendas in advance and keep minutes. Most post agendas, packets and video on their websites, and the meeting packet is usually the best source for what is actually being decided. Public comment is taken at most regular meetings.
Property taxes from all of these bodies come on one bill. Our guide to Lincoln County property taxes explains how that bill is built.
Rosalind Teague covers ocean science, coastal hazards and the people who shaped the central coast.
