City of Eugene Measures

Measure 20-36

The measure would give the city a maximum of $25.1 million in tax dollars to build a new police station and purchase land for a new fire department.
Supporters say the city’s police and fire facilities are outdated, cramped and need to be replaced to accommodate the city’s growing population. They also say the police station is seismically unsound, raising concerns that the Eugene Police Department could be crippled in an earthquake or other disaster.
Opponents say the price tag is too big and that cheaper options, such as better managing the city’s existing favilities, should be explored.
The Emerald says NO. Would spend $47.5 million to build a new, central police headquarters downtown. Almost $22 million of this money would be spent on interest, not on public safety. City leaders seem to really want a law enforcement edifice in the heart of the city. Voters have rejected this idea before, but the city has retooled it and focused on marketing the idea to citizens rather than coming up with new ideas. Eugene residents have expressed their desire, by rejecting previous measures and through surveys, to have a focus on community policing and crime prevention rather than punishment. We agree that the police need improved facilities. City headquarters needs retrofitting. Substations need more money, and more substations need to be built. But Measure 20-36 is not the right solution.

Measure 20-37

A proposed levy, this measure would grant the city $1.75 million per year for two years for neighborhood-based youth programs. Property taxes would increase about 3 percent.
Supporters say the programs funded by the levy would give kids productive after-school activities and could keep children supervised and out of trouble.
No organized opposition.
The Emerald says YES. Would raise $3.5 million over two years to spend on community programs for youth. Eugene residents have also expressed their desire over the years for improved opportunities for children. Crime prevention starts by keeping kids involved in their community and off the streets. This is an inexpensive way to develop more programs for kids and deserves our support.

Lane County Measures

Measures 20-38 and 20-39

Measure 20-38 would generate $10 million a year four years by increasing property taxes by 55 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value. These funds would support a larger population at the county inmate work camp and Juvenile Justice Center, add staff to supervise the increased populations and open a female wing of the juvenile center’s alcohol and drug treatment center. The accompanying bond, Measure 20-39, would provide just over $8 million to build a new jail intake center that would increase the incoming population by 65 people. Like 20-38, Measure 20-39 would raise property taxes by 3 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
Proponents say there is dire need in Lane County for the two measures. They cite prisoner releases from the county jail and what they call an under-staffed and ineffective juvenile center. The funds could mean more people would pay for their crimes, and more juveniles would receive the attention their crimes deserve.
Opponents argue that the prisons are overcrowded because they’re packed with people arrested for crimes that don’t need to be prosecuted. They believe jail beds should only be used for serious offenders. They also argue that the county should use more rehabiliatation methods, rather than just resorting to incarceration.
The Emerald says YES. Measure 20-38 would impose a local option levy to raise approximately $40 million over four years for expanding the Forest Work Camp, increasing juvenile corrections and rehabilitation programs and maintaining current services. While this is a bit of money, some of it is being used to replace lost federal funding and some of it is being used to increase residential alcohol and drug treatment and risk assessments for youth. This seems to be a good mix of a conservative increase for services and additional spending on rehabilitation. Voters would be wise to make this investment. Measures 20-39 would float a bond to spend just over $8 million for constructing a new county jail intake center, increasing county jail beds and most importantly, renovating the county jail heating and cooling system. This is a prudent investment in our facilities. It is a small price to pay for a structurally sound building.