City/County Road Partnership & Proposed County Capital Project Partnership

New Search

~. BCC 2/8/00 with CITY MAYORS Lane County is currently receiving. He added that legislation allows each county commission to establish a local option registration fee of $10 per year and Lane County in 1998 had 300,000 registered vehicles. He said that Lane County could receive another $3 million in road fund revenue that would be available to Lane County. B. Federal Timber Legislation Briefing. Van_ Vactor reported that 1999 was a busy year with federal forest fund stabilization. He noted that Lane County gets 25% of discretionary general fund from O & C timber revenue that is equally critical. He noted that HB 2389 has passed the Congress on November 3, 1999 and Senators Wyden and Craig have put together a compromise legislation, Senate Bill 1608, that is similar to HB 2389. He thanked De Fazio who was critical in getting HB 2389 moving. He noted the administration has placed funding for this legislation in the President's proposed budget. He said currently there are negotiations between members of Congress and the administration. He requested the help of the cities to get either HB 2389, SB 1608, or a reasonable compromise passed by Congress. He added citizens of Lane County have been beneficiaries of the partnership with the national forest and O & C and if the cities were willing, letters of support would be helpful. Snowden reiterated the affect of the timber legislation as more significant than the passage of Measure 82 for the County. He noted in Fiscal 03/04, if Measure 82 passes, the County will get about $17 million per year from the gas tax. He added in full implementation, Measure 82 would give the County $3.5 million more per year than Lane County would otherwise get. He noted if HB 2389 is made law, the County will get $12 million more per year than relying on funding tied to the actual harvest. Mayor Jim Torrey, City of Eugene, said the monies need to be taken to shore up the existing road basis. He was not interested in dragging this out over a number of years. He said it needs to be maintained and he is prepared to lobby as hard as possible. He said that $2.5 million will not break the bank and hopes t11e County can come up with the $2.5 million. He asked what would happen in the future if the legislation or state gas tax is not passed. He added he did not want Coiuity revenues kept in reserve for the needs of the County road system. He suggested working together to get a positive solution in Washington, D.C. Dwyer agreed with continuing the money as long as possible, but said it does not need to be a blank check. He said Lane County is shrinking and there needs to be a discussion on how. to protect the citizens from what government may see as a benefit to them. He declared it is the Board's responsibility to protect those citizens. Fred Simmons, City of Springfield, said everyone is a County resident and a strategy needs to be determined to meet the needs of all the people. He suggested pursuing the program as it is but resolving some of the issues of the ;;- Urban Transition Agreement. He said it was the Board's charge to make sure the funds are available for this year and then work with the state for resolution in the future. Page 3 of 7 http://www.co.lane.or.us/BCC Info/Meeting_Info/2000%24Minutes/February/00 2-8jt.htm 12/4/00