Eugene nonprofit, union, elected officials rally for $10M annual fee
3 min read
from Save Our Services and staff reports
Eugene nonprofit leaders, union leaders, and elected officials have formed the group “Save Our Services” to support the recently-adopted $10 million annual fire fee and the critical funding it provides for city services.
They are asking Eugene residents to “Decline To Sign” the referendum petition that would put the fee to a vote, and to support the fee if the referendum is conducted later this year.
The Eugene Chamber of Commerce announced plans Friday to support the referendum signature drive. In a press release, fee supporters said: “Despite a more than year-long public process preceding the fire fee’s adoption, the Eugene Chamber of Commerce announced plans Friday to refer the fire fee to the ballot, which would delay its implementation and lead to cuts in services as early as this summer.”
Former Eugene Mayor Lucy Vinis supports the fee. “The city functions under severe financial constraints primarily due to the property tax limits imposed by Measures 5 and 50,” she said. “Those constraints make it impossible for the city to raise revenue commensurate with the costs of a growing city. This new fee, developed over more than a year with deep public input, is a sustainable, well-designed step toward alleviating the city’s budget crisis.”
Without additional revenue, Eugene will be forced to reduce services that could impact public safety, health and livability. These cuts could result in slower fire and emergency response; a reduction of public safety officers; the elimination of services that protect people and animals; reduced access to the public library, community centers, and pools; and a reduction in vital homeless and health crisis services.
“If the city’s fire service fee gets eliminated, it will likely mean cuts to the programs and services that our community relies on. In addition to the impact on public safety, I’m very concerned about what it might mean to our community’s most vulnerable people and pets,” said Cary Lieberman, the executive director of Greenhill Humane Society.
Dana Fleming, executive director, Eugene Public Library Foundation, said of the options for balancing the city’s budget for the next biennium, the fire fee protects the most library and other city services funding. “The cumulative amount of cuts of the past few years have made it incredibly challenging for library staff to balance the needs of patrons against their limited availability and fewer resources. Additional cuts will further impede library patrons and cripple an already diminished staff,” she said.
Save Our Services says passage of Eugene’s fee was critical to maintaining funding for the programs and services Eugene residents have come to expect in our community. The fee expands and guarantees funding for firefighters by creating a protected fire service fund. It ensures funding for fire and emergency response while at the same time freeing up resources for other critical services.
“The fire service fee is the most feasible way to ensure stable funding for fire services while preserving key services our community relies on––the library, animal services, community centers, CAHOOTS response, and dozens of other programs and services that are some of the things that make Eugene the community we love,” said Councilor Eliza Kashinsky (Ward 1).
Councilor Jennifer Yeh (Ward 4) said, “As residents of Eugene, we are fortunate to benefit from essential services including libraries, animal services, parks, fire/EMS, police and more that contribute to the well-being of our city. Elimination of the fire services fee would mean cuts to these and other vital services putting the livability and safety of our community at risk.”
“City Council and community groups did the right thing to make sure our community continues to be the vibrant place we all want,” said Adam Epstein, president, AFSCME Local 1724 Eugene City Employees. “To have the fire service fee put back into question without another funding mechanism means Eugene losing many of the services we rely on and enjoy. From Parks to help in inspecting homes to ensuring safety for renters, everyone will be hurt if we don’t fund our city.”
“With so many federal services being cut or reduced, we need to support the services provided by local government more than ever!” said Rev. Dan Bryant, public advocacy director for Square One Villages.
For more information how you can “Decline To Sign,” see the Save Our Services website at EugeneSOS.com.
