Laserfiche WebLink
<br />May 28, 2019, Meeting – Item 4 <br />• Citizen Advisory Board <br />The City Manager will convene a Citizen Advisory Board which will prepare an annual report. <br />• 7-Year Reauthorization <br />After seven years, the Citizen Advisory Board will compile a comprehensive seven-year review <br />and report. City Council will hold a public hearing to gather citizen input regarding whether the <br />payroll tax is accomplishing the objectives specified in the ordinance, and Council will either <br />adopt a motion to continue the payroll tax or do nothing and discontinue the tax. <br />7. Where does Community Safety funding come from now? <br />The City uses a variety of funding sources to fund community safety services including our General <br />Fund (which mostly comes from property taxes), grants, federal funds, local fees and taxes (like the <br />marijuana tax), and other sources. About 60% of the City’s general fund goes toward public safety. You <br />can see more information on the City’s Open Budget website at budget.eugene-or.gov. <br /> <br />8. Why isn’t money from the marijuana tax, or other taxes, being used instead of a <br />payroll tax? <br />Funding from the local marijuana tax does support community safety. The local marijuana tax collected <br />almost $1 million in 2018; that money supports parks security, Community Court, human services, and <br />a portion has been set aside to fund homeless shelter options. Funding for a local option levy was also <br />considered by the Community Safety Revenue Team, but a new levy would yield less than $10 million <br />annually and isn’t considered a permanent funding source as a levy would need to be renewed every <br />five years. These other options do not meet the funding needed to provide services for our Community <br />Safety System as approximately $23.6 million is needed each year. <br /> <br />9. Will I get to vote for the payroll tax? <br />The City Council has the authority to implement a payroll tax by ordinance. All ordinances require a <br />public hearing. <br />May 28 Public Hearing <br />At their May 8 Work Session, City Council voted to send the payroll tax ordinance to public hearing: <br />• Date: Tuesday, May 28 <br />• Time: 7:30 p.m. <br />• Location: Harris Hall, 125 East 8th Ave. <br />Community members who are unable to attend the public hearing may submit written comments to <br />councilors at eugene-or.gov/communitysafety, <br />Alternatively, the tax may be placed on a ballot by the Council, by citizen initiative, or through a <br />successful referendum petition.