We believe voters should have a voice in decisions that create permanent fees for core government services- especially when there are no built-in limits on future increases. Faced with a budget deficit, the City of Eugene needs to address the structural budget issues causing this gap. That will not be solved through a new fee that just postpones difficult conversations. We must create a sustainable financial plan that prioritizes core services while ensuring the city lives within its means.

On February 10th the Eugene City Council passed the new Fire Service Fee, a measure aimed at raising new revenue to address an $11.5 million city budget gap.

This new “Fire Service Fee” will be applied to all properties in Eugene, based on square footage. The median single-family home will pay $10 per month, median commercial customer will pay $38 per month and larger properties will pay up to $1750 per month.

In the first year, the fee is intended to raise $10 million, but only $2 million will be used for new fire services. The other $8 million will be redistributed to fill an existing budget gap in the general fund and pay for other current services beyond just fire. With or without this fee, the city will still have to make budget cuts this year and in years to come as this does not fix the underlying budget issues.

The fee is permanent, regardless of the city’s financial situation, and it can be increased by any amount at any time without a vote of the public.

The council opted to pass this fee without a vote of the public. In response, a citizen led referendum process is underway to collect 5,817 signatures to refer the measure to the ballot—ensuring the public has a voice relative to putting this new, permanent fee in place.