CC Minutes - 09/25/06 Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Regarding the property tax credit, Councilor Taylor ascertained from Mr. Harcleroad that it was a credit for a portion of the taxes that went to the County. She said supposing a homeowner in Eugene paid $3,000 per year in property taxes, what portion of it would go to the County? Mr. Harcleroad replied that no property tax paid to the City of Eugene would be reduced. He stressed that the only property tax that would be reduced would be the portion paid to Lane County. Councilor Taylor opined that this would be a much smaller amount than people would think it would be. She felt it was deceptive to give people the impression that they would receive a large refund. She asked how much of the administrative costs could be attributed to the reduction in property tax. Mr. Harcleroad responded that he would obtain that figure for the council. Councilor Taylor indicated that she was not ready to approve the resolution. Councilor Bettman agreed it was unlikely that a commissioner elected in 2013 would circumvent the intent of the charter amendment. She thought the rural patrols would be covered, according to the charter amendment language. She said the amendment was not the ordinance implementing the income tax and the programs as it basically limited the tax to two percent or less and dedicated it to public safety. She declared that public safety was a broad category. She felt because of this the ordinance could pay for rural patrols, the building of a jail, or building “any kind of building that could be construed as providing public safety services.” She asserted that the County could end up in the same position after ten years; that the majority of the revenues could ultimately be dedicated to infrastructure and the services would still not be funded. She wanted the charter amendment to be more constrained and circumscribed in order for her to support it. Councilor Papé asked why Mr. Harcleroad was at the council meeting and not a County Commissioner. Mr. Harcleroad explained that because of his position as District Attorney, he was more knowledgeable on the subject of public safety. Councilor Papé, seconded by Councilor Poling, called for the question. The vote was a tie; councilors Papé, Poling, Solomon, and Pryor voting yes; councilors Kelly, Taylor, Ortiz, and Bettman voting no. The Mayor voted against calling the question and the motion failed. Councilor Bettman asked how many of the other communities had endorsed the measure and, of them, how many had given unanimous support for it. Mr. Harcleroad replied that 12 cities had been asked to endorse the resolution. Veneta provided unanimous endorsement, Florence provided unanimous endorsement, Dunes City provided unanimous endorsement, Creswell provided unanimous endorsement, and a motion had been made to endorse it at the Coburg City Council but it died for lack of a second. Councilor Bettman asserted that Eugene residents would be subsidizing rural services. She could not support the resolution. Mayor Piercy shared her belief that it takes everyone to build a system together. The motion to approve Resolution 4890 passed, 6:2; councilors Taylor and Bettman voting in opposition. The meeting was adjourned at 9:32 p.m. MINUTES—Eugene City Council September 25, 2006 Page 12 Regular Meeting