CC Minutes - 04/19/05 JEO - Laserfiche WebLink

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Jim Gangle, Assessor, explained if the district chooses a particular rate, there would be a property tax compression that would occur if they come up against the Measure 5 limitation. He distributed a document about the amount of compression that would occur in the cities across the county. (Copy in file). He noted that compression would occur on the local option levies first. He noted the City of Eugene has a youth and library local option levy and the City of Springfield has the police and fire local option levies and those districts start compressing first and the compression moves into the permanent authority. Bettman asked if Lane County would continue to spend what they are spending now. She also asked if the level they would continue to fund public safety services from the County's general fund would include $20 million. She asked if this would be $20 million of new services. Gangle indicated it would be $20 million of services to be added back. Woodrow recalled that three years ago the citizens of Springfield voted for the local option levy for both the police and fire department. He said based on the County's chart, they would have to take police officers off the street and close the fire station the voters told them they wanted open. He asked how they could justify that to the voters. Gangle said they want balance to occur and they are asking to maintain balance across the whole public safety system. He said they want to work in concert with the cities. He said they are not trying to work alone. Ballew asked if the market value increases would have any effect. Gangle responded if the real market value were increasing faster than the three percent limitation on the assessed value, they would have room under the Measure 5 cap. He added if the real market value flattened or continues to decline, the Measure 50 value starts bumping up against that. He noted that 65% of the county's properties still had gaps. Bettman asked if there was a ceiling for the County in the deficit the County is trying to accomplish with the service district. Gangle said they have tried to identify those services that are most valuable to the citizens of the county in the city and outside. His understanding was the cities and the County would work together to determine what those services are that would be best dealt with the Public Safety District and those amounts would be built into the levy. Russ Burger, Sheriff, explained the question is whether or not the Metro Plan could be amended to allow for the service district. He said they have ideas about the need but they need a conversation with the cities before they come up with the plan that is best for Lane County. He said from the Sheriff's Office perspective, they have 119 empty jail beds. He said they are empty because they don't have the funds to staff those beds. He noted Page 5 - Joint Elected Officials Meeting - 7:00 p.m. - April 19, 2005 WD bc/m/05043/m