State auditors found some questionable administrative costs — including $26,500 for a holiday party and “employee recognition expenses” — at a state-funded nonprofit that promotes renewable energy and energy efficiency.

Capital Bureau

SALEM — The Oregon Legislature Thursday approved election dates for two major pieces of legislation if they are referred to voters.

A $5.3 billion transportation funding package passed Thursday and new taxes on health care providers to pay for Medicaid could get referred to voters next year.

Oregonians can petition to refer legislation to the ballot. The referral typically gets voted on in the next general election, but the Legislature has the authority to hold special elections.

• Three Republican lawmakers plan to file a petition to refer the so-called $550 million “provider tax” to the ballot.

• Democrats in the House and Senate passed legislation Thursday to hold the possible referral election on that issue in January 2018, rather than the November general election. The same elections bill says that if the transportation package gets referred, it will be voted on in May 2018 primary election.

• The transportation package, an effort more than two years in the making, raises $5.3 billion over 10 years through increased gas taxes, registration and title fees and a flat tax on adult bicycles priced more than $200.

• Many Republicans have cried foul at the Democratic effort to hold a January election on the possible provider tax referral. Sen. Alan Olsen, of Canby, was moved to remark on the Senate floor Thursday: “It’s like the Grinch stole the election.”

• The state already assesses certain urban hospitals 5.3 percent of their net revenues to help pay for Medicaid. Hospitals receive most, if not all, of the amount back in the form of payments. Legislation passed this session creates a tax of .7 percent on those hospitals, a new 4 percent assessment on rural hospitals, and taxes insurers.

• Democrats have said that holding the election in January gives lawmakers time to find a backup plan to fund Medicaid in the 2018 short legislative session.

• Hospitals, who initially supported the provider tax and could as such be an important ally of provider tax proponents in a ballot battle, say they have not decided whether they’ll advocate for the tax at the ballot, now that the legislature appears likely to pass another piece of legislation affecting how much they get paid for certain services.