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EUGENE CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY Ceremonial Matters: Proclamation in Support of the National League of Cities American Dream Campaign Meeting Date: September 27, 2004 Agenda Item Number: 1 Department: City Manager's Office Staff Contact: Lynda Rose www. cl. eugene, or. us Contact Telephone Number: 682-5017 ISSUE STATEMENT This is a proclamation in support of the National League of Cities' (NLC) "American Dream Campaign." The City of Eugene is a member of the NLC and has been asked to formally endorse the campaign and offer information on how the City of Eugene is helping to ensure access to the American dream. BACKGROUND On September 28, 2004, a bipartisan panel of city leaders will join NLC President Charles Lyons for a national roundtable discussion in conjunction with the NLC American Dream Campaign. The campaign is intended to draw attention to the need to forge a stronger federal-local partnership to ensure access to the American dream for all citizens, including financial security, affordable housing and quality education, all of which are basic requirements for good jobs that lead to the realization of the American dream. Cities across the country are seeking to engage citizens in conversations about how their individual and collective efforts work toward this goal. This item has been placed on the agenda at the request of Councilor Nathanson, a member of the Board of Directors of the NLC. The City of Eugene has taken an active and lead role in keeping housing affordable in this area. In partnership with a number of local agencies and in association with the Housing Policy Board, the City of Eugene has sought to increase the number of low-income housing units. Since 1989, a total of 2,895 low-income housing units were either built or acquired, are under construction, or in the process of being planned. This work expands ownership to a larger number of people. In 2003, the City of Eugene took the lead to create a greater community awareness of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program. Working with a number of agencies, the intensified efforts increased the number of persons eligible for the tax credit filing by almost 40%. With this increased number of filings, there was a concurrent increase in the numbers qualifying for the tax credit. Although final numbers are not yet available, it is estimated (from initial data supplied by the Internal Revenue Service) that the average tax credit was approximately $1,300 per individual, resulting in an estimated $1 million overall return to the local economy and taxpayers. L:\CMO\2004 Council Agendas\M040927\S0409271.doc