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<br /> Property taxes should be reserved to fund local government programs and should not be <br />used for State-level services. The State may from time to time use the general obligation <br />pledge, which may include a pledge to levy property taxes, to provide security for bond <br />issues and obtain lower interest rates. The payments on the bond issues should not, <br />however, be intended to be made from property taxes. Property taxes should not be used <br />to fund core State services, like higher education or public safety. <br /> <br /> Recommendation: <br /> <br /> 1. Oppose the levying of property taxes by the State to fund State-level services, <br /> <br /> 2. Support easing of the constitutional double-majority requirement for GO Bonds for <br />capital construction. <br /> <br /> <br /> <br />3 URBAN RENEWAL DISTRICTS <br /> <br />Urban renewal districts provide a tool for cities and counties to use in funding economic <br />development and critical public infrastructure projects. Eugene has used urban renewal <br />to assist in a number of important downtown projects. <br /> <br />As a result of Measure 50, the City undertook a full review of its urban renewal programs <br />during the spring of 1998. For the Downtown District, the City determined that it would <br />grandfather the district and redirect all revenues toward an important public project in the <br />downtown area (construction of a new library). With the new library complete, the City <br />Council amended the Downtown District plan in 2004 to allow projects besides the <br />library. Also, the City enlarged and renewed the Riverfront urban renewal district to <br />stimulate development in the vicinity of the Federal Courthouse. <br /> <br /> <br />The City opposes any proposed legislation that would result in a further loss of revenue <br />to urban renewal districts. One way that such losses could occur is from exempting <br />certain types of levies or taxing jurisdictions from the division of tax calculation. <br />Another way this could occur is if the urban renewal statutes were changed so that <br />compression would occur where compression does not exist under current law. These <br />types of changes would result in a reduced ability by the City to fund highly desired <br />projects. <br />City of Eugene Legislative Policies, 2007 Session <br />With IGR Mtg 10/17 and 10/26 Amendments C:\Documents and Settings\ceexelf\Local Settings\Temporary Internet <br />Files\OLK10B\LegPol2007Sesxx1.doc <br />Updated on: 11/6/2006 By: Last saved by ceexmfw <br /> 19 <br /> <br />