09/23/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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Carroll Fentress, 3883 Blanton, supported the one-half of 1 percent, piggy- - back tax on the Oregon adjusted gross income tax. He commended the council on the public meetings it held to discuss the Eugene Agenda. He said Eugene has received millions of dollars in Revenue Sharing Funds, other Federal funds, and State funds. They have been used for many civic purposes, but they will not be available in the future. Some essential City services, such as the Fire and Police Departments, have already been cut below safe levels. Facil- ities must be repaired. The airport is inadequate. The citizens need an enlarged library. Eugeneans will have to pay their own way or do without, he said. They will have to pay more taxes or receive fewer services. He said he relied on the councilors' judgment that the income tax proposal is the best financing available at this time. Scott Benge, 1010 Forrester Way, represented the Associated General Contrac- tors (AGC) of America. He said the members are concerned about the deterio- rating infrastructure everywhere. Nationally, spending for public works has declined by 44 percent since 1965. Governor Atiyeh said local governments will need about $2 billion by 1989 to prevent additional deterioration of the infrastructure. Eugene needs additional revenue to maintain the current infrastructure, Mr. Benge said. The AGC supports the income tax proposal and the use of the funds for maintenance of the infrastructure first and then for capital improvements. Harold Hyman, 415 Brae Burn Drive, represented the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce. He said members realize money must be spent to maintain existing facilities and to get what is needed to attract new jobs. Members have stud- e ied the council proposal. Mr. Hyman said the Chamber of Commerce supports an income tax to fund much needed projects, but asked the council to consider the following suggestions: 1) The tax should be a permanent one because capital projects should be maintained; 2) The rate of the tax should be one-third of 1 percent. The $4 million annual revenue will provide for maintenance of the CIP and the airport expansion; 3) The community should participate in plans for a library expansion and the plans should be completed before regional funding is sought; and 4) A long-term, regional financial and managerial arrangement should be sought for Mahlon Sweet Field. Bruce Chase, 3 Chevy Chase Lane, is on the Mahlon Sweet Airport Commission. He discussed needed projects at the airport. He said the airport expansion is critical. Robert Moulton, 294 Sterling, endorsed the council's proposal. He said streets, parks, and other CIP projects are needed and the airport needs to be expanded for economic development. He said the expansion of the library should be studied, but its inclusion in the package presented to the voters is appropriate. Dorothy Anderson, 939 East 21st, testified as an individual. She was not representlng any official body. She said the community has many needs and very few options. She was pleased with the council's proposal and the inclusion of the CIP in it. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 23, 1985 Page 3