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services are best provided at the state level, while other services must be responsive to the <br /> unique needs of each community. <br /> <br /> This partnership becomes dysfunctional when the Legislature preempts certain revenue- <br /> raising authority enjoyed by local government. This occurred in 1997 when local <br /> governments were prohibited from implementing a local real estate transfer tax and in <br /> 1995 when the Legislature preempted Eugene's ability to collect a voter- passed video <br /> poker tax. In both cases, the impact was to divest local government of one more tool -- a <br /> necessary tool given property tax limitations -- to meet the costs of services demanded <br /> by residents. It remains crucial for city residents, through their officials, to be able to <br /> determine the types and levels of services needed. <br /> <br /> The City of Eugene will oppose <br /> legislation that restricts cities' ability to Local Government Funding <br /> diversify their income base. With the <br /> passage of Measure 50 in 1997 and <br /> Measure 5 in 1990, our options for .Any local government authority to raise <br /> funding services needed and/or desired revenue should not be preempted by the <br /> by our citizens are constrained. Cities' Legislature. <br /> authority to impose local option sales, <br /> use, business, income and premium .Terminate State preemption of local taxes. <br /> taxes must be maintained, as well as <br /> their ability to impose vehicle, license .Oppose any effort to restrict cities' ability <br /> and regulatory fees, fines and penalties, to diversify their income base. <br /> <br /> Recommendations: <br /> <br /> 1. Oppose any efforts by the <br /> Legislature to preempt local government authority to raise revenue. <br /> <br /> 2. Support termination of state preemption of local taxes. <br /> <br /> 3. Oppose any effort to restrict cities' ability to diversify their income base. <br /> <br />B. PROPERTY TAXES <br /> <br /> 1. EXEMPTIONS <br /> <br /> In Oregon, a total of 107 different types of property tax exemptions resulted in more than <br /> $19 billion in tax revenue foregone in the 2004-2005 biennium. As outlined in the <br /> Oregon Department of Revenue's ;;2004-2005 Tax Expenditure Report," many of these <br /> exemptions date back to the State's territorial days. Most, then, were intended to further a <br /> public policy goal. <br /> <br />City of Eugene Legislative Policies, 2005 Session 9 <br /> <br /> <br />