School district board members’ statements of economic interest are due by Monday, April 15.
Board members who are in office as of April 15 of this year must file the public reports covering their 2023 property holdings, income sources and other financial interests. The statements do not require amounts. More than 6,000 state, county and local positions fall under the Oregon ethics law aimed at transparency in public financial dealings.
A 2022 bill added school district board members to the law, and 2023 was the first time they had to file.
“School board members selflessly serve their communities,” said Emielle Nischik, OSBA acting executive director. “We understand this creates a burden for some individuals, but it is the law, and this process helps assure openness and gain public trust.”
As of April 8, a little more than half of school board members had filed, according to the Oregon Government Ethics Commission, which oversees the statements. Failure to file can lead to fines up to $5,000.
The commission has created an SEI Filing Resources page to help. The page includes:
- Links to the remaining live webinars.
- Video tutorials.
- The 2024 SEI Filer Guide.
- Contact information for additional help.
The commission also offers a page with answers to frequently asked questions.
Commission staff can also help filers over the phone at 503-378-5105 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.
– Jake Arnold, OSBA
[email protected]
