09/25/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Councilor Hansen had received a call from a Springfield councilor who asked e the Eugene council to delay a vote on the income tax until the three jurisdic- tions could agree on a way to pay for the three projects. However, Mr. Hansen thought a delay would not decrease the difficult choices. He favored giving the citizens a chance to vote. He said a new income source was first consi- dered to fund the CIP. The library expansion was then included in the pack- age, but the expansion would necessitate an additional $350,000 in operating funds for the library. Mr. Hansen did not think a commitment to expand the library should be made until funding for its operation is assured. He noted that the school districts, the University of Oregon, and Lane Community College have libraries. He said a commitment to expand the library would indicate that the library has a higher priority than the police and fire departments. He favored an income tax of one-quarter of one percent which would pay for the airport and provide some funds for the CIP. It would mean the community would have to seek funds from other sources such as the Federal government and the State lottery. He said some bonds will be paid off in six years and then property taxes should go down. Perhaps a library could be financed then. Mr. Miller said Eugeneans place a higher priority on capital investments than some people in other cities do. The capital investments make the city a good place to live. He could support an income tax of one-third to one-half of one percent. He emphasized the importance of terminating part or all of the income tax in 25 years. He said the council should present a proposal to the community for a vote because the community has indicated it wants the airport and library expanded and the CIP projects maintained. He said the citizens of e the metropolitan area benefit from capital projects of the city, and people who benefit should help pay for them. Therefore, he had no problem with the cummuter tax. Ms. Wooten said her experience this summer talking to constituents, social service agencies, and members of clubs was good. Councilors had responded to comments received from the public. She had been influenced by the testimony before the council and other councilors' thoughts about the best package to refer to the voters. She said some people in her ward have lower incomes than people in other wards. She said regional capital projects benefit people who work in the city but live outside the city. She suggested a commuter differ- ential so that those people would pay one-quarter of one percent income tax. She agreed they should receive free library cards. She had proposed an exclu- sion for people earning $5,000 a year or less, but she thought that exclusion should be raised to $7,500. She favored an income tax of four-tenths of one percent. She said the airport, library, and the CIP may have to be cut back to permit the low-income exclusion and the commuter differential. Ms. Ehrman said Mayor Obie's five point Eugene Agenda enabled the council and the community to focus on the future. The council added three projects for public consideration. Councilors attended many meetings to learn what the citizens wanted. The airport and library expansion and the CIP program emerged with most support. Commenting on the testimony at the council's pub- lic hearing, Ms. Ehrman discussed user fees for the airport and the library, an increase in property taxes, and the gas tax. She said federal laws pro- hibit fees for airline passengers. Efforts to change the federal laws e MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 25, 1985 Page 3