Voters approve four ballot measures updating Corvallis City Charter

May 20, 2026 - Voters in Corvallis approved a batch of four related ballot measures to make updates to the City Charter. Early results show the four ballot measures passing handily on the May 19, 2026 election, with each measure garnering about 80% support from voters.

The City Charter, first adopted in 1948 and updated several times over the decades, serves as the City’s Constitution. It outlines the organization, structure and function of Corvallis government.

The four ballot measures put forth a series of updates and revisions intended to clarify certain situations (like a vacancy caused by a Councilor resignation) and to remove redundant language that is superseded by state law.

Most of the updates were drawn from the League of Oregon Cities’ Model Charter, which is offered as a model for municipal governance in Oregon.

"These revisions may seem like administrative changes, but they are an important step toward modernizing our City Charter and supporting good governance in Corvallis," said Mayor Charles Maughan, chair of the Charter Review Task Force.

"Regular updates to the City Charter will ensure it remains effective and relevant in the years to come," said Council President Tony Cadena, who also served on the Charter Review Task Force.

The ballot measures will take effect upon certification of election results by the Benton County Elections Office, which is expected by June.

This is the first batch of Charter amendments that voters have had the opportunity to consider. A city task force is hard at work finalizing recommendations on a second batch of proposed Charter amendments covering "Form of Government" topics such as Councilor term lengths and number of wards. Those proposed amendments could be placed on the ballot as early as November 2026.

For more information on the City Charter review process, go to www.corvallisoregon.gov/advisorygroups/page/charter-review-task-force-phase-2