Lane County residents will vote whether they will pay a 1.1 percent income tax, the only county income tax in the state, and whether the possible tax will be capped at 2 percent. The ballots have been sent out to mailboxes across the county, and on May 15 voters will either deny county income tax measures for the 14th time in the last decade, or support the tax that will replace possible federal budget cuts.
Some residents believe the county budget is already adequately funded, but incorrectly allocated.
“The county should not be granted more taxes until they take steps to bring their cost structure under control,” James Fox, 2007 Taxpayer Watchdog Award recipient and Lane County income tax opponent, wrote in an e-mail. “The power of the purse and the ballot are the only tools available to the ordinary citizen to exercise control over government.”
The tax is projected to generate approximately $32.5 million from a 1.1 percent income tax proposal to replace the likely loss of federal funds. A similar measure, a 1.5 percent tax that was not primarily dedicated to public safety, was proposed last year and lost in the November election by 1 percent of the vote – about 3,000 votes.
“In November last year we were told the funding of secure rural schools would be renewed by the end of 2006 and it wasn’t,” Faye Stewart, chair of the Lane County Board of Commissioners, wrote in an e-mail. “Knowing all this the board chose to move forward with a new income tax to replace the federal funds.”
The Secure Rural Schools and Self-Determination Act of 2000 provided Lane County with more than $27 million in SRS funding for public government.
On Sept. 30, 2006 the SRS authorization ended. This will be the last payment made unless Lane County receives an extension, although the four-year extension is only intended to phase out existing payments. The income tax is directed at replacing these funds if Lane County does not earn the extension.
The county has known for six years that SRS money was going away and they made no plans to deal with the loss, and the tax in not a graduated tax, therefore the “rich” don’t pay a higher rate, Fox wrote in an e-mail.
Voting for Measure 20-129 will impose a 1.1 percent income tax on personal, non-resident and business income, and a voting for Measure 20-130 caps the income tax at 2 percent and dedicates the revenue for public safety.
County officials have warned that if Lane County is cut off from SRS federal funding, public safety will suffer drastic cuts that will increase risks and reduce safety throughout Lane County. Public safety includes programs for alcohol and drug treatment, mental health, crime victim services and programs to protect people from criminal activity such as the sheriff, youth services and district attorney departments
“Again this tax is to allow us to keep the current service level at Lane County and not add any new services,” Stewart said. “No cuts to health and human services, parks, etc. It will keep Lane County whole.”
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