Hood River County Commissioners continued their progress toward putting at least one, and quite possibly two, tax measures on the ballot in 2019 to deal with the County’s budget woes during their final meeting of the year on Monday.  Commissioners appear to have reached consensus on moving forward with putting a prepared food and beverage tax on the May 2019 ballot, even though the percentage is still to be determined, but likely to be somewhere between three and five percent.  The other possibility is a local option levy, as Commissioners asked for more detailed breakdowns on how those revenues would be distributed among County departments, and will get them at their January 7 worksession.  In other business, the Commission approved a 3.3 percent rate increase for Hood River Garbage, and Friends of Oak Grove Park presented the County with a check for $4,255 that it had fundraised to pay for park maintenance.  The meeting marked the final time Ron Rivers would hold the gavel as Commission Chair after 12 years in the position.  Rivers did not seek re-election earlier this year.  Mike Oates took the oath of office for the position, and will assume the seat in January.  Commissioners Karen Joplin and Bob Benton also took their oaths as they retained their positions during the 2018 election.