01/10/1979 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

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their district, which would mean City residents would be paying. Manager responded that with the proposed system, people outside the city would be included in the payment for a district-wide assessment. Manager said the theory of the percentage exemption was an attempt to make the tax as ~ equitable as possible. .., Ms. Smith supported the City of Eugene agencies being totally exempt, and was particularly in favor of exemption of the Metro Wastewater Management Commission (MWMC). She questioned the amount of money the City would have to pay if the MWMC were not exempted. Ms. Joyce Benjamin, City Attorney's office, said the amount would be based on building costs. She said it certainly would be in excess of $100,000, and might even be up to $1,000,000. That money would have to be taken from the City sewer fund. Mr. Lieuallen felt to the extent that one of the other local governmental agencies is supported by the City, then it did not make sense they should .be taxed. On the other hand, to the extent they are not supported by taxpayers outside the City, he felt they should be taxed. Mr. Haws did not see the rationale for the separation of City of Eugene agencies and other local governmental agencies. He noted EWEB has some facilities in Eugene, but they service people outside Eugene. He ques- tioned how EWEB would be different than School District 4-J. Mayor Keller responded EWEB is an arm of the City, whereas School District 4-J is not. Mr. Haws noted there are EWEB users living outside the city who are making demands on city tax dollars. Manager responded those people pay additional charges. Mr. Delay was against complexity in government, and was in favor of adopting the least complex method for the SOT. He noted the percentage ~- formula would be extra work for staff and he did not think it necessary. Each individual case would be different, depending on the circumstances. Also, it would complicate the ongoing intergovernmental studies regarding tax equity with the other jurisdictions. Mr. Delay moved, seconded by Ms. Smith, to accept staff's original recommendation for total exemption of City of Eugene agencies and other local government agencies, with exemptions or reductions for other governmental agencies (as outlined in paragraph 2 of memo dated January 5, 1979), on a case-by-case basis. Mr. Delay said the intent of his motion was to ask staff to prepare a policy based on the recommendation in the memorandum and prepare the ordinance provisions for a public hearing at a later date. He felt this would allow a flexibility for a case-by-case determination for the agencies, such as Federal, State, University of Oregon, etc. Mr. Obie questioned why the County should be exempt versus a company such as Northwest Bell. He said to not provide the same type of return to city residents that is provided for other developments is not responsible. He could only support City of Eugene agencies being exempted. 1/10/79--10 - 2.0