Tale of three taxes: Some Eugene voters face a levy, a bond and a fee
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EUGENE, Ore. - Some voters in Eugene will decide on three money measures on the May 21 ballot: a tax levy for the Lane County Jail, a City of Eugene service fee and a Eugene 4J School District bond.
For households inside all three districts, the measures add up to about $245 per year - $42 for schools, $83 for public safety and $120 for city fees.
That combination has at least one city councilor feeling a little nervous.
"There is some concern, you know, it's competing interests," said Councilor George Poling.
Poling thinks this might be a case of election overload with county, city and the school district all asking the voters for money in the same election.
"Right now is a bad time I think to ask people to put more of their limited income into serial levies, bond measures and whatever else is out there," Poling said.
City Councilor Alan Zelenka disagrees.
"While it's a tough lift for some people, I think for a lot of people this is affordable, this is modest enough," he said.
The City measure seeks a new fee on households and businesses to fill a projected budget gap.
The County measure would fund more jail beds and juvenile detention facilities.
The school measure puts $170 million toward new schools.
"So it's been a long process and it really made sense for us to go forward at this point," said Jennifer Geller, chair of the Eugene School Board.
Eugene bond measures have done quite well in the recent past, including a couple of street repair bonds.
Poling said the May election is a different situation.
"It's going to be a tough sell to get all three of them passed," Poling siad. "I hope they do, but who knows what the voters are going to do at the end of the day."
Zelenka thinks it won't be hard to sell the city fee and school bond to voters.
"The two of them talk about quality of life and education in this community and what kind of city we want to live in," he said, "and I think they complement each other."
This article states in part:Â "City Councilor Alan Zelenka disagrees.
"While it's a tough lift for some people, I think for a lot of people this is affordable, this is modest enough," he said.
The arrogance is nothing short of amazing! This is the people we have who were elected to work for the citizens of this community. These are the kind of people who are for all intent and purposes in charge! Their attitudes, the work ethic, they sense of right and wrong and their morals and values are PATHETIC at best!
This is the exactly what I'm talking about! This City Councilor (Arrogant thief) has the attitude the powers that be have always had. When we recklessly and irresponsible spend all the taxpayer money (our motto: We will never save for a rainy day or invest or be frugal) we'll just ask, cajole, threaten or fear monger to get more! We care about ourselves and nothing more...
This city counsel is talking about spending $15 million (what ever the number is, certainly in the millions) or so on a new or retrofitted City Hall!?! Now were talking about yet more taxes! When does it stop! When is enough, enough?
I donât get it, if you donât have the money how can you purchase something? Donât give them another dime! This will not be the end of it! Make these people do the job they were elected to do! Make them figure this out, because its their responsibility, they chose to take these jobs. Generations before them caused this in the first place, and they (powers that be) are continuing the status quo! There were plenty of decades when the city was flush but the city of Eugene blew the money as it came in, instead of saving and investing it!
This is the problem people, the powers that be, the Mayor, City Manager, City counsel members and anyone and everyone else in power in this city do NOT care that the money they collect is TAXPAYER MONEY NOT THEIRS! All theyâre concerned with is spending, spending and spending some more! Give us more money, so we can spend it irresponsibly, like we have done since the beginning of time to date!!! This is why the city of Eugene and just about every city in this nation has no money because they refuse to be âfrugalâ and to SAVE AND INVEST! If they have to have it they find a way to spend it, or something to spend it on!
Weâre not just talking about services that are vital to safety. Weâre talking about all servicesâ¦. At some point you (taxpayer) have to say NO, we will NOT give you another dime! Tighten your belts and deal with it! When you get to the point where you have some extra money than and only then would you even think of spending taxpayer monies!
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The powers that be, are irresponsible period! Stop the damn spending and do what you were elected to do, not what you want to do! It isnât your money! And that building (City Hall) isnât yours either it belongs to the taxpayer and to the citizens of Eugene, including the homeless and the most vulnerable!
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This will never stop, they (powers that be) will continue to come to you for more money! They will continue to ask for more money, I say no freaking way!Â
Why would the Mayor, the city counsel members, or the any of the powers that be do anything else if all they have to do is say we need more money and you give it to them!
The government of the city of Eugene have no morals, values or any integrity what-so-ever!
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Anybody voting yes on this nonsense must be on the payroll..
The struggle for the private sector continues as the government employees figure a way to keep all their perks, especially PERS. The Government won't quit, they have this addiction to power and early retirements, then double dipping, it goes on and on, all on the backs of the private sector who can only dream of such things.