Why do they consider it an emergency?
The short answer is that the emergency is about money the city expects to lose, not money it has already lost. The council voted 5–1 on Tuesday, October 20, after Gov. Kotek's October 9 letter asked the state environmental regulator to pause air and water permits for new or expanded data centers until July 1, 2027. The city's resolution says that threatens its "economic stability, municipal finances, employment opportunities, and planned infrastructure investments."
The figures the city gave in its release are:
- Industrial investment: more than $5 billion in anticipated investment
- Jobs: at least 1,000 construction jobs
- City revenue: $6 million, tied to data center agreements, including repayment of bonds for the voter-approved police station
- Water infrastructure: $12 million in developer-funded improvements
City Manager Dave Stockdale says the current budget is secure and the city has not spent or committed money it hasn't received yet. His concern is that delayed permits could push projects back two years or more, or cancel them. The declaration also authorizes him to coordinate with other governments on possible legal remedies, and the council will review it in 90 days.
The mayor asked whether any legal precedent says an emergency declaration can apply to a governor's order, and the answer was no. Kotek's office says it supports the pause so Oregon's policies can protect public health and natural resources.
Sources: Oregon Capital Chronicle and City of Umatilla release via Apple Valley News Now.
🕒 As of October 2026
