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training programs, local enforcement of federal immigration laws (the 181 statutes), and State <br />shared revenues. Mr. Heuser invited questions. <br /> <br />Mayor Torrey thanked Mr. Meisner and the members of the CCIGR for their work. He called for <br />a first round of council comments and questions. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner commended this year's legislative process. He said that he had been approached by <br />legislators and lobbyists who commended the City's staff for its work. Regarding the session, he <br />suggested that Eugene had ~'dodged a bullet" by not being a target for the State legislature this <br />year. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner thanked Mr. Pap~ and Mr. Kelly, members of the CCIGR, for their work. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner thanked the council for its letter in support of rail funding, noting that operational <br />money had been preserved and he was sure funding for rail improvements could be found without <br />a special session. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner noted that the revenue bill included a reduction in the discount for early payment of <br />property tax, which affected the City. The amount was reduced from 3 percent to 1-1/2 percent. <br />Staff was working on an analysis of the expected revenue. <br /> <br />Mr. Meisner said that the issues facing the legislature in terms of PERS and the revenue package <br />that legislators were too busy to do damage in other areas. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman asked if any progress had been made in closing "luxury loopholes" in the tax code. <br />Mr. Heuser said very little progress had been made. The legislature took one small tax credit off <br />the books. He anticipated that the legislature would appoint a tax force to examine the tax code <br />and make recommendations on tax reform. A recommendation would be made around May 31, <br />2003, and the legislature would meet in a special session. Mr. Heuser believed that the legislature <br />had avoided the issue because of the many other contentious issues that had to be resolved. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman asked the total fiscal year's budget for transportation at the State level, and its <br />percentage of the entire budget. Mr. Heuser indicated he would follow up as he did not know. <br /> <br />Ms. Bettman said she understood that the transportation bill would create 5,000 new jobs, and she <br />asked how that figure was calculated, and if the jobs were new jobs for Oregon employees or if <br />they would be filled by skilled out-of-state workers. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly concurred with the remarks of Mr. Meisner regarding the quality of the staff support <br />received by the committee, and thanked staff. <br /> <br />Mr. Kelly asked if anyone had estimated a time line for the litigation related to PERS to be <br />resolved. Mr. Heuser said that the legislation had a clause "fast-tracking" it, and he hoped the <br />issue would be addressed by the State Supreme Court within twelve months. He suggested that it <br />was in the interest of all parties to get the issue resolved as soon as possible. <br /> <br />Mr. Pap~ also thanked staff for its support. He also thanked the local legislative delegation, <br />which had been responsive to his calls. <br /> <br />MINUTES--Eugene City Council September 8, 2003 Page 4 <br /> Work Session <br /> <br /> <br />