Eugene voters will decide the outcome of two citywide special election ballot measures this Tuesday, Nov. 6. Ballots have gone out to registered voters and must be mailed in by Friday to meet the Tuesday deadline, or dropped off by Tuesday evening. One measure addresses the repair of the city’s roads, while the other was designed to fund the revitalization of downtown.
City of Eugene Ballot Measure 20-132 – City Gas Tax
This measure will increase the fuel tax in Eugene by 3 cents per gallon, bringing the total fuel tax to 8 cents per gallon, if approved by voters. The tax provides funding for the reconstruction, repair, maintenance, operation and preservation of Eugene’s city streets.
The proposed increase is expected to generate an additional $2 million annually, and is part of a new revenue funding package to address the ongoing deficit in street operations that was crafted by the Eugene City Council.
Supporters of the measure argue the city’s backlog of unfunded road projects has skyrocketed to $170 million, and could grow to $282 million within the next 10 years if not addressed with more funds.
The city council determined the backlog would need an additional $16 million annually to chip away at the enormous backlog, and the gas tax is one part of a four-pronged plan to achieve this monetary goal.
The majority of city councilors support this measure, and Councilor Chris Pryor recently held a public debate to advocate for the passage of measure 20-134.
Opponents say that a city fuel tax increase is not the answer to Eugene’s road problems, and the better option is a statewide fuel tax increase of 14 cents per gallon.
Oregon Petroleum Association representatives believe a city tax increase will undermine their efforts to persuade the state legislature to pass a statewide fuel tax increase, which hasn’t happened since 1993. Opponents have also speculated that consumers are sensitive to fuel prices and will just fill up outside of Eugene – Springfield has a 3-cents-per-gallon fuel tax, and Lane County imposes no fuel tax.
City of Eugene Ballot Measure 20-134 – Downtown Urban Renewal Plan Amendment
If approved by voters, this measure would increase the amount of urban renewal funds that can be spent on downtown projects by $40 million, and extend the termination date for the downtown urban renewal plan from 2024 to 2030. The measure doesn’t require the city to spend the full $40 million, but any money used could increase the city’s maximum debt.
Those supporting the measure have ardently expressed that the city will not have the financial resources to restore downtown Eugene to a place of bustling commerce and attractive appearance if the city council does not have the $40 million spending allowance increase.
Plans to revitalize downtown by two Portland developers have been accepted by the city council. They include a small cinema, an open-air park, a grocery store, retail shops and new housing, among other attractions. But some city councilors say this plan is dependent on Ballot Measure 20-134 passing.
However, one city councilor, Bonny Bettman, has led the charge against this measure because the $40 million increase will be diverted away from the Eugene School District 4J, Lane Community College, the City of Eugene and Lane County. She said revenue reduction could cost those groups a total of $86,940,000 during the next 23 years.
Bettman is joined in opposition of the measure by a number of local business owners who feel that bringing in a new cache of chain stores will force local businesses out of operation.
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