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Today the Lookout Eugene-Springfield Editorial Board concludes its endorsements for the May 19 primary election with rural Lane County ballot measures.
We’ve already published our endorsements for Lane County commissioner and circuit court judge, Eugene City Council races, countywide and Eugene ballot measures.
Just a reminder that all of Lookout’s election coverage is in one place and free for voters to learn about the candidates and issues on the ballot.
Measure 20-378 – Lane Fire Authority five-year local option levy: No
In November, voters in the Lane Fire Authority district rejected a substantial increase to the levy they pay to support rural fire and medical services in western Lane County.
We were disappointed when the district came back this spring with the exact same request: an increase in the levy from 35 cents to 55 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value.
District leaders pointed to a 20% increase in calls and other cost increases since the levy’s current rate was set five years ago. It’s a valid point, but not one that justifies a 57% increase in the levy’s cost – especially considering voters already rejected it less than six months ago.
The district may be banking on higher turnout this time around, given the much larger number of candidates and measures on an even-year ballot. And last November’s 53-47% margin of defeat wasn’t exactly a landslide. But it wasn’t a nailbiter, either, and we feel it sent a message: Come back with a more reasonable ask and get a better result. Until then, we recommend a ‘no’ vote.
Measure 20-379 – Siuslaw School District facility improvement bond: No
Just about everyone, including us, agrees that Florence’s elementary and high schools need updating.
But a $139 million bond is an unreasonable ask for Siuslaw School District taxpayers to shoulder, so we can’t support this bond measure, despite acknowledging the need for community buy-in here.
At a rate of $2.75 per $1,000 of assessed property value, the bond would cost the owner of a $450,000 house more than $1,200 per year.
Supporters want to see the bond fund a full rebuild of Siuslaw High School, including spaces that don’t exist in the current building such as a dedicated cafeteria and auditorium. They also want to renovate the oldest part of the elementary school, at an estimated cost of $13 million.
That leaves more than $125 million toward the high school rebuild, a figure we struggle to justify despite the clearly worthy goal of providing top-notch facilities for students to learn in.
We share the concern of some of the bond’s opponents, who would prefer to see more modest fixes rather than a full rebuild, at a cost homeowners in the district are more prepared to stomach.
We urge a no vote and hope the district proposes a smaller bond as soon as possible.
Measure 20-382 – Dexter Rural Fire Protection District local option tax renewal: Yes
Four years ago, the Dexter Rural Fire Protection District’s local option tax passed with more than 60% of voters’ support.
Now the district is looking for a five-year extension of the tax, which is set to expire next year. Unlike other rural fire districts, Dexter leaders aren’t eyeing an increase in the current rate of $1 per $1,000 of assessed property value. They merely want to hold the line and maintain around-the-clock staffing at their sole station.
It’s a reasonable request, one with proven community support. We see no downside to the levy renewal, and urge a yes vote.
Measure 20-383 – South Lane County Fire & Rescue five-year local option tax: No
Similar to the Lane Fire Authority levy, voters in the South Lane County Fire & Rescue district sent its leaders a message in November: You’re asking for more than we’re willing to give.
Nearly 54% of voters rejected a proposed doubling of the current levy amount, from 47 cents to 94 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Now, South Lane district leaders are back with the same request, hoping to hire six additional firefighter-paramedics. We want more resources for South Lane and all rural fire districts, which are uniformly facing rising personnel costs and more calls for service. But someone has to foot the bill for those positions – namely, the thousands of residents who live within the district’s boundaries.
This time around may go differently. But just as we said of the Lane Fire Authority levy, we feel South Lane leaders should have digested November’s results and realized the lack of an appetite for doubling the tax wasn’t in the cards. Then, they should have brought a smaller increase to voters. We urge a ‘no’ vote and hope the district gets the message this time around.
Measure 20-385 – Fern Ridge Library District five-year local option levy renewal: Yes
More than 3,500 people in Veneta and nearby communities are cardholders at the Fern Ridge Public Library.
In 2017, district voters approved an increase in the tax levy to its current rate of 35 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value, to fund additional staff positions and longer operating hours. Three years later, nearly 60% of library district voters renewed it. Now the library seeks an additional five-year extension at the same tax rate that’s been in place for nearly a decade.
The levy’s failure could mean painful cuts to library hours and programs for a community that clearly supports those services. We urge a yes vote to keep the library intact.
