09/10/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Wong distributed a September 10, 1985 memo containing a proposed ballot e title for an ordinance adopting a personal income tax. He said options included doing just the charter amendment, or doing both the charter amendment and a public vote on the ordinance as two ballot measures. He also said the other handouts included an opinion from the City Attorney's Office and some options on tax credits. III. CALENDAR OF EVENTS Mr. Wong reviewed the agenda attachment conta ining a timel ine for the November election and said the three options listed were not the only ones possible. He also reviewed the last two attachments, a timeline for a December emergency election, and costs and time frame for a poll of Eugene voters, adding that a list of voters had been ordered. IV. COUNCIL DISCUSSION Mr. Obie said he thought the public input process had provided a good foundation for decisions, and he suggested that the discussion move toward defining some parameters and testing and developing direction and consensus. Mr. Holmer said he thought a period of citizen education had ITBde people aware of the issues and of the need for a new income stream, adding that he thought e a vote on the best package that could be devised was appropriate, as was an income tax. He also said he did not want to restrict revenue entirely to ca pi ta 1 items. Mr. Holmer said based on the hearings, he thought the Federal Revenue Sharing, including transportation items and maintenance of public buildings, items 8 and 9 of the agenda, had to be replaced. He said the airport seemed to have the most pUblic support and he hoped the library could be included as well. Ms. Schue said she thought a vote should be held in the fall rather than waiting until March, and she agreed with Mr. Holmer1s identification of key proj ec ts . She added that she was concerned about operating expenses for an expanded 1 ibrary and about drawing the defini ti on of ca pi tal improvements too ti ghtly. Mr. Rutan said he thought something specific should be put on the ballot in November. He added that he thought the Council should select the projects that make the most sense and would have the most impact on the community. He said he would support the 1/2 percent income tax and the three key projects mentioned previously. He also said he thought it was important to present a clear understanding to the public of where the money would go now and in the future, and what the flexibility of the Council would be. He sa i d he wa s open to more discussion on the library issue, although he was concerned about the cost, and he also expressed his concern that the ballot title not be overly restrictive to the Council's flexibility. e MINUTES--Eugene City Council Revenue Work Session September 10, 1985 Page 5