On Tuesday, April 15th, about 40 neighbors gathered on a beautiful spring evening in the Pavilion at Wayne Morse Family Farm (and on zoom) to hear from four speakers about the proposed Eugene Fire Services Fee and the related referendum that halted its implementation. Some SHiNA Board members commented on the discouraging irony of gathering in a beautiful, publicly funded parks facility while learning about potentially devastating budget cuts that our city faces to parks, public safety, and other valued services.
The speakers – City Councilors Matt Keating (Ward 2) and Eliza Kashinsky (Ward 1), Chamber of Commerce President Brittney Quick-Warner, and Eugene Budget Committee Chair Tai Pruce-Zimmerman – discussed the process and facts that led to the proposal of a Fire Services Fee in early 2025 as a method of responding to budget shortfalls as well as their perspectives on the fee itself. The fee was the subject of a recent referendum by voters which now requires it to go to a ballot if City Council wishes to implement the fee. Currently, City Council is discussing other ways to gain revenue in order to avoid an $11M cut in this budget. The City’s budget website is located here: https://www.eugene-or.gov/106/Budget
At the meeting, we learned that the City of Eugene has struggled over many years to keep up with rising costs associated with city services while increases to property taxes have been limited by Measures 5 and 50 since the early 1990s. You can view a very informative presentation by the City’s Senior Financial Analyst Mauricio Bottalico about the impacts of Measures 5 and 50 here on our community’s tax structure from the February 12, 2025 Budget Committee meeting, here.
Many neighbors had questions and comments including neighbors who run organizations and services that will be impacted by City budget cuts if the Fire Services Fee does not move forward. The SHiNA board recorded the zoom meeting, which can be view in a series of three videos on the SHiNA Youtube channel, here.
It was an interactive, informative, and meaningful event during which we heard from our fellow community members who are coping in different ways with upcoming budget shortfalls in the City. We also got to catch up with neighbors and our City Councilors over delicious cookies and tea provided by the SHiNA Board.
The SHiNA Board encourages every SHiNA neighborhood member to stay engaged in the City’s Budget process so that you are aware of the impacts of these budget issues and the potential revenue sources that City Council may consider to bridge the funding gap. Comment on this post with your own questions to our neighborhood board – and thanks to everyone who attended the meeting.
SHiNA 