09/10/1985 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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Ms. Bascom agreed with Mr. Rutan's comments, adding that she was comfortable e with the rationale for excluding the sunset provision. She said the income stream was inadequate in the present structure and a new one was needed. She also said the areas of use needed to be identified, and added that she felt an election should be held in the fall while the agenda still was on people1s minds. She expressed her surprise and pleasure that the library had emerged with so much support. Ms. Ehrman said she agreed with the airport, CIP, and the library projects, but she woul d not add transporta ti on to the CIP because of the lack of a large majority. She said she was concerned about holding the majority willingness to pay, adding that she favored coming down to 1/4 percent on the rate. If that was not enough money, she suggested taxing corporations to provide the rema i nder. She also agreed that operating expenses for the library should be included, and that the election should be held in the fall. Ms. Ehrman sa i d the sunset provision had not come up often in town hall meetings, although she said the campaign should emphasize what funds were for and when they were expected to end. She added that she did not think an income stream could be passed, but that it would have to be tied to specific projects, of which ca pi tal projects were the most 1 ikely. Ms. Wooten said the residents of her ward seemed less likely to support an income tax than those in other parts of the city. She sa i d, however, tha t she thought the proposed draft ordinance was progressive and fair. She said she would support referral of an income tax at 1/2 percent and would request serious discussion about a higher low-income exemption, perhaps to $7,500 e rather than $2,000. She said she would tie the revenue to capital projects and would try to look at some type of sunset clause that would be workable in terms of the bond rating. She also said she would drop the Riverfront Project because it could be self-financing, along with the pool, for the present, and entrance beautification, adding that she had serious questions about the local cost share of transportation projects to West Eugene. She said she would support funding for the airport, although she had spoken with many people who favored spreading the costs regionally among users. She also said she would support the 1 ibrary and unfunded capital, as long as what was included \\8S c1 early di scussed. She said she thought downtown deserved special attention and discussion, although no proposal was available at present. Ms. Ba scorn said the continuing needs were the reason she favored leaving out the sunset provision. Mr. Miller said he favored referring something to the voters that would have a good chance of passage. He said he had talked with many people who were concerned about finances, and would favor a low-income exclusion and pOSSibly some type of fair relief to individuals who need it. He said he would support the proposal without a sunset provision, as long as the revenue stream was funded with sensitivity toward those in financial difficulty. He sa i d he fel t the two essential projects were the capital improvements and the airport. Mr. Miller added that he was not opposed to the library but suggested listing it as a separate ballot measure. He said he thought 1/2 percent might be prohibitive for some people, suggesting that the first $10,000 of all income be excluded, or that higher incomes be subject to greater percentage rates. He said residents of his area had expressed their belief in the projects, but - not all areas of the economy were advancing. MINUTES--Eugene City Council Revenue Work Session September 10, 1985 Pa ge 6