11/24/1982 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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~ . . Ms. Smith reviewed a draft of legislative priorities for Eugene and Springfield for 1983. These were 1) Economic development, including emphasis on support for higher education and development of a research corridor, planning and development, and job creation; and 2) State and local government finance, including diversifying and stabilizing revenues and improving local authority/flexibility for taxation and tax base elections. She noted that the Legislative Subcommittee needed approval of the priority homework before the meeting with the delegation. Mr. Gleason said that this meeting with the legislative delegation was very important and contributed to the City of Eugene's exceptional effectiveness at the legislative level. He noted that the Lane County delegation plays an important leadership role in the legislature. Councilor Lindberg said that he supported the priorities in the draft and agreed that there was need to diversify revenue sources. He said, however, that he did not feel comfortable with the specific suggestion of a statewide sales tax. He felt that the sentence referring to the sales tax should be deleted from the draft. Councilor Smith said the draft was intended to open the door for discussion of particular revenue measures by the legislature. She said the Springfield City Council had suggested strengthening the statement of support for a sales tax. She felt that the statement basically urged strong investigation of the possibility of a sales tax. Councilor Miller noted that the Financial Planning Committee was considering the e sales tax issue. She felt that some significantly different statewide revenue system was needed, not just readjustment of existing systems. She said she personally felt comfortable with the statement in the draft. Councilor Schue said that the legislative committees of both the League of Oregon Cities and the Eugene City Council felt that it was stronger to suggest a specific solution to the revenue problem to the legislature rather than merely identifying the problem and offering no solutions. Councilor Lindberg said that he would withdraw his objection to the statement so long as it was very clear that council members were not to be held to that particular position. Councilor Smith asked that as a part of its approval of this priority statement the council also approve the policy used in the last legislative session regarding City testimony in the State Legislature. She believed that the policy had worked well in the past in coordinating testimony of various arms of the City. Ms. Schue moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to adopt the Legislative Subcommittee's report. Roll call vote; motion carried unanimously. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council November 24, 1982 Page 5