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paid more in one month to the tutor than most people would pay in taxes in one year if the tax passed. She emphasized the importance of adequately funding for public schools to economic development. She said as a business owner, it was not a burden to her to determine if her employees lived in Eugene. She strongly supported the measure. Hillary Johnson, 2865 Emerald Street, Strong Schools Eugene Campaign Chair, expressed support for the proposed school income tax and thanked the council for referring a measure to the voters. She emphasized that such a tax had been employed in Multnomah County and it was not a new concept. She reviewed some of the reductions that would occur if the measure did not pass. Lisa Fragala, 30 Ash Street, thanked the council for its leadership in referring Ballot Measure 21 -82 to the voters. She was a second -grade teacher in the 4J district who believed the measure was desperately needed. She said class size made a significant difference. She noted the many roles she already played as a teacher and anticipated she could also be a physical education and music teacher next year. Ms. Fragala said the measure was about strong schools and community jobs. She suggested the Oregon unemployment rate would look better if educators were not taking such a "hard hit." She believed the community supported the ballot measure. Kate McCarthy, 2243 Kincaid Street, supported Ballot Measure 21 -82. She said that strong schools were vital to the health of the community and to business recruitment. Good schools were beneficial to all residents, even if one did not have children in the schools or sent their children to private schools. She feared that additional reductions could impel more people to send their children to private school, which would further deteriorate the schools and the community. Keith Eddins, 1970 Columbia Street, Treasurer of Strong Schools Eugene, spoke in support of Measure 21 -82, which would help his daughter and all Eugene school children deal with the impact of the continuing failure of the State to fund education. He believed opponents to the measure were offering hypothetical and hyperbolic arguments against it. For example, the opponents had suggesting the tax was not temporary because the council could extend the tax at any time because it was adopted through an ordinance. He pointed out that Portland had ended its tax, which was also adopted through ordinance. The opponents also suggested the State would fix the funding problem but the State had no money to do so. He did not want to wait for the State to act because he did not think it would. Kirsten Haugin, 1436 East 22 Avenue, thanked the council for putting the measure on the ballot and the City staff for its hard work putting the measure together. She supported Ballot Measure 21 -82 because schools were the cornerstone of a strong community. She said local schools were "on the brink" because of a continual lack of funding. Teachers did what they could to overcome the lack of funding. Ms. Haugin believed people needed to get past the idea that if they had money in their pocket it was good for them; sometimes it was better to give money to the community. She feared that if the measure did not pass, schools with the ability to fund raise would succeed while other schools would fail, leaving some behind, and more parents would send their children to private schools. Ms. Haugin was concerned about what happened to the community when the schools were not strong enough to serve as its "bedrock." Mayor Piercy closed the public hearing. Councilor Zelenka thanked those who spoke and emphasized his support for the income tax for schools. He acknowledged that school funding was a State responsibility but the State had "failed us" and "enough was enough." He believed the positive impacts of the tax were clear and its cost was modest. The income tax would be temporary and would sunset in four years. He believed the tax was also good for the economy. MINUTES — Eugene City Council April 11, 2011 Page 5 Regular Meeting