09/23/1985 Meeting (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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M I NUT E S - Eugene City Council City Council Chamber September 23, 1985 7:30 p.m. COUNCILORS PRESENT: Cynthia Wooten, Richard Hansen, Emily Schue, Ruth Bascom, Debra Ehrman, Roger Rutan, Jeff Miller. COUNCILORS ABSENT: Freeman Holmer. The adjourned meeting from September 18, 1985, of the City Council of the City of Eugene, Oregon, was called to order by His Honor Mayor Brian B. Obie. 1. PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ADOPTING CITY PERSONAL INCOME TAX; REFERRING CHARTER AMENDMENTS TO A NOVEMBER 5, 1985, SPECIAL ELECTION, AND CALLING FOR AN ELECTION ON THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS (memo; ordinances, resolutions distributed) City Manager Micheal Gleason introduced the agenda item. Finance Director Warren Wong gave the staff report. He said the council adopted the Eugene Agenda of five projects in the spring and then added the library expansion, a - sWimming pool, and the replacement of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds to the Agenda when public discussion was requested. He said the City will not receive any Federal Revenue Sharing Funds after September of 1986. They have been used for the City's Capital Improvement Program (CIP). The projects and a proposal for a personal income tax were discussed at many public meetings during the summer. The airport expansion, the library expansion, and the CIP received the most support at the meetings. Mr. Wong said the councilors decided to include the projects with the most support--the airport expansion, the library expansion, and the replacement of Federal Revenue Sharing Funds (CIP)--in a package to be funded by a personal income tax. The package could be referred to the voters on November 5, 1985. The rate of the income tax would be fixed by a charter amendment and could not be changed without voter approval. The revenue received from the income tax would be dedicated to capital projects. Mr. Wong reviewed the proposed pro- visions for an exclusion and credits for people with low incomes. He said the Oregon Department of Revenue would administer the city income tax. Employers would withhold the tax which would be paid by Eugene residents and non- residents who work in the city. Non-residents would pay the city income tax only on income earned within the city. Mr. Wong recommended that the council postpone action on the income tax ordi- nance until after the election. He recommended the council refer a charter amendment to the voters on November 5, 1985. He recommended the amendment - MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 23, 1985 Page 1