04/22/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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e Ms. Schue emphasized that surveys have indicated that citizens have a great deal of interest in the library. Ms. Wooten proposed that the council approve a public education campaign about the Eugene Agenda, decide how much should be provided for each of the pro- jects, and then decide how the program should be presented to the voters. Ms. Ehrman suggested councilors hold "town hall" meetings to discuss the projects, their cost, and ways to finance them with the public. Mr. Rutan 1 iked that idea. e Responding to a question from Mayor Obie, several councilors said they did not favor a property tax, but Mr. Hansen said it should remain an option. Ms. Wooten supported an income tax and an employee payroll tax. She and Ms. Ehrman opposed a utility tax. Answering another question from Mayor Obie, Ms. Wooten, Ms. Ehrman, Mr. Holmer, Mr. Rutan, and Ms. Bascom indicated some support for an income tax or an employee payroll tax. Ms. Bascom said they are easy taxes to collect. Ms. Ehrman and Ms. Schue supported raising as much money as possible with one tax. Ms. Schue was comfortable with the income tax, but had some reservations about the employee payroll tax because Lane Transit District levies a payroll tax. Mr. Holmer preferred a personal income tax because it would be paid on total income by everyone who lives in the city. Mr. Hansen proposed a package which would be composed of an employee payroll tax, an income tax, and a property tax. Each tax would provide one third of the needed income. He favored broadening the tax base and noted the employee payroll tax would affect people who work in the city and live outside it. Responding to a question from Ms. Wooten, Mr. Wong said he had not discussed a Lane County one-percent income tax with Lane County representatives. Ms. Wooten suggested Springfield, Eugene, and Lane County might each levy an income tax. Mayor Obie suggested a $30 million general obligation bond which would provide $6 million annually. Each year $3.5 million could be taken out and the rest used for improvements. Mr. Hansen emphasized that the cost of the projects should be clarified before anything is presented to the voters. Summarizing, Mayor Obie said there was some consensus that an employee payroll tax and/or income tax should be used to fund the annual $8.3 million to $11 million revenue needs. He asked each councilor to indicate what should be funded. Ms. Wooten would like to fund all of the Eugene Agenda, the library and a swimming pool, a reasonable replacement of Federal Revenue Sharing funds, and a part of the Capital Improvement Program. She suggested $4 million be alloted for the replacement of Federal Revenue sharing funds and the Capital Improvement Program. ~ MINUTES--Eugene City Council Work Session April 22, 1985 Page 4