Lane County voters approved most local levies
This story has been updated at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 10.
Of the Lane County-specific ballot measures, all but one were leading by a wide margin.
According to early results, voters are willing to pay extra taxes to go toward city improvements — with the exception of voters in Pleasant Hill.
Springfield jail and police services
Springfield 20-327: Shall Springfield levy $1.40 per $1,000 assessed valuation for five years beginning 2023/24 for Springfield jail operations and police services? This measure renews current local option taxes. In the levy’s first year, a typical Springfield homeowner with an assessed value of $170,000 (not market value) would pay $238.00.
In early results, about 66% of voters were supporting the levy.
"Thank you, Springfield voters," stated Springfield Mayor Sean VanGordon in a news release. "Your consistent support of this public safety levy is a game changer in our ability to grow and thrive as a community."
"The Springfield Police Department remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our sense of community, while at the same time strengthening relationships with those who we are fortunate to serve," added Springfield Police Chief Andrew Shearer in the release.
Eugene road repairs
Eugene 20-333: Shall Eugene repair streets and fund walking, biking, safety, and street tree projects using $61.2 million in general obligation bonds? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to (property tax) limits. Bonds would be repaid from property taxes beginning 2024. Estimated rate is $0.63 per $1000 of assessed value, cost to average Eugene homeowner would be about $169 per year.
About 65% of voters were supporting the bonds.
The funding will be used to repair 42 street projects and sets aside $15 million for projects to improve walking, biking, safety and street trees throughout the community.
"Time and time again Eugene voters have shown that they care about the conditions of their streets and the safety of their transportation network," said Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis in a news release. "I’m excited to see how these funds will be leveraged to make our city a better and safer place to live."
Pleasant Hill fire station
Pleasant Hill Rural Fire Protection District 20-329: Shall bonds be issued to replace the Pleasant Hill Fire Station by levying $0.93 per $1000 of assessed value? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to property tax limits. Expected to cost the average homeowner $20.73 per month or $248.77 annually.
About 75% of voters were against the measure.
However, this was good news for the Pleasant Hill Fire District Board of Directors, who did not endorse the bond.
Board President Todd Anderson said he sent out a newsletter to Pleasant Hill voters, explaining that while the town does need a new fire station, this bond measure it not the best way to accomplish it. The measure was brought about by private citizens group, not Pleasant Hill Fire and Rescue.
"We agree completely with the citizen group that Pleasant Hill needs a new fire station, we just didn't feel this was the proper way to go about it," Anderson said.
Anderson said the $8.5 million bond would legally max out the group's borrowing authority, meaning there would be no funding left to take care of emergencies such as needing to replace certain equipment. He also said the measure does not provide any opportunities to staff a new station 24 hours a day.
Pleasant Hill currently has two fire stations, the main station in town and a satellite station in Jasper. The main station has seismic problems, which would make it unsafe in case of a major earthquake, according to Anderson.
He said the board is looking to consolidate the Pleasant Hill and Goshen fire districts to create more funding and draw out a long-term funding plan that would keep the tax rate low for voters and sustain the community. Anderson said they're hoping to have something on the May ballot regarding a new measure for the fire district.
"We do feel the plan we're going to be proposing will be a better long-term plan for both Goshen and Pleasant Hill," Anderson said.
Coburg charter
Coburg 20-336: Should the 2022 Coburg Charter be adopted repealing previous Charters? Would update outdated charter measures that officials say “hinder effective and efficient municipal operation.”
About 78% of voters were supporting the measure.
Rainbow water and fire services
Rainbow Water and Fire District 20-331: Shall Rainbow levy $1.71 per $1,000 assessed value outside its permanent rate for five years, beginning 2024/25? This measure renews current local option taxes. The levy is based on assessed value, not market value, and will cost $367 per year for an average district home.
About 69% of voters were supporting the measure.
McKenzie fire district
Upper McKenzie Rural Fire Protection District 20-334: Should Upper McKenzie RFPD levy $0.50 per $1,000 valuation for EMS and Fire services for five years beginning in FY2023/2024? This measure renews current local option taxes.
About 86% of voters were supporting the measure.
Lane County parks
Lane County 20-335: Shall County restore, improve parks and natural areas by levying $0.16 per $1,000 assessed value for five years beginning FY2023/24? The estimated tax rate for this levy is $0.16 per $1,000 of assessed value. The median Lane County homeowner is estimated to pay an average of $38 per year for five years.
According to early results, 60% of voters were supporting the levy.
The tax will raise about $31 million over the next five years for natural recreation areas including Mt. Pisgah, Baker Bay, Armitage, Richardson, North Jetty and Fern Ridge River Reservoir.
Brad van Appel has been executive director of the Mt. Pisgah Arboretum for 14 years. He said he's excited to see voters willing to invest in local parks.
"Overall, the park system has been underfunded for a very long time," van Appel said. "There's a lot of maintenance that has been put off for too long, things that are falling apart, things that could be taken care of better. So I think throughout the park system, we're going to see things getting better, trails being better maintained, facilities and restrooms and parking lots and those sorts of things."
At Mt. Pisgah, funding will help make trails more accessible for people with disabilities. There will also be more investments in educational opportunities for students and the broader community.
"It's very encouraging to see how many people in community agree with the value of our parks," van Appel said of the early results.
Psilocybin-related businesses
To find results for the five cities in Lane County that are leaning to ban psilocybin-related businesses allowed under M109, go to Election results: Multiple cities ask voters to ban psilocybin-related businesses.
Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.
This article originally appeared on Register-Guard: Election results: Lane County, Oregon, local measure breakdown
