Special Districts Association of Oregon

The Special Districts Association of Oregon was formed in 1977 to give special districts a stronger and united voice at the Oregon Legislature. As with similar associations that support cities, counties, schools, and local governments, the Association provides advocacy with state administrative agencies and other units of government, training, information resources, and other support programs. SDAO has grown its membership to nearly 900 special districts and has become an important support organization for their individual efforts.

SDAO currently operates as a 501(c)(6) not-for-profit corporation. Based upon its legal status and bylaws, SDAO/SDIS Board decisions and programs are limited primarily to Oregon special districts as listed in ORS Chapter 198; intergovernmental organizations created under ORS Chapter 190; affiliate organizations covered by the Oregon Tort Claims Act in ORS Chapter 30; school districts under ORS Chapter 332, and educational service districts under ORS Chapter 334. Other statutes of importance include those for Oregon not-for-profit corporations, ORS Chapter 65, and ORS Chapter 731 and Chapter 656, which regulate self-insured pools.

The mission of the Special Districts Association of Oregon is to assist special service districts in providing cost-effective and efficient public services to the people of Oregon.

Special Districts Insurance Services Trust

In 1985 the Special Districts Association of Oregon (SDAO) created a self-insured Trust, Special Districts Insurance Services (SDIS), to escape the volatilities of the traditional insurance market. The Trust created an opportunity for members to control insurance costs by jointly pooling resources to self-insure for property, liability and workers compensation coverage. All of the participants in the Trust, both members and associate members, are owners of the program. All of the equity, or surplus, belongs to the participants whether they are school districts, fire districts, water districts, etc. Unlike an insurance company where the profits are distributed to shareholders, SDIS’s only objective is to provide reasonable and stable rates and broad coverage to participating Oregon public entities of all kinds and sizes. SDIS now has nearly 900 Oregon local government members with annual contributions exceeding $20 million.

SDAO in cooperation with OSBA form Property and Casualty Coverage for Education (PACE)

Special Districts Association of Oregon in cooperation with the Oregon School Boards Association formed PACE in 2006 to serve the unique needs of Oregon's public school districts, community colleges and education service districts. By merging their school district insurance programs, SDAO and OSBA formed the largest property and liability risk pool of school entities in Oregon. For more information visit the PACE web site.

 

Membership Profile

	Cemetery	33
	Charter School	34
	Communications	10
	Community College	14
	Council of Government	1
	County Service	4
	Drainage	25
	Education Service	18
	Fire / Ambulance	263
	Hospital / Health	28
	Irrigation	79
	Library	20
	Miscellaneous	18
	Park & Recreation	47
	Port	23
	PRC Client	4
	Public Utility	10
	PUD	1
	Road	68
	Sanitary	52
	Soil & Water Conservation	42
	Transit	11
	Vector	16
	Water	130
	Water Control	18