Measure 20-361: repeal restrictions on how an income tax is used by the County but the county doesn’t have an income tax
Official title: Repeal of Section 34 of Lane County Charter Financial impact: Because this measure deals with the repeal of Section 34 of the Lane County Charter which deals with any Lane County income tax and there is not currently a Lane County income tax, there is no financial consequence to the approval of this measure
Probable Results of a “Yes’ ‘ vote: Section 34 will be removed from the Lane County Charter
Probable Results of a “No” vote: Section 34 will remain in the Lane County Charter.
Background: Lane County government operates under a home rule charter approved by voters in 1962. In 2010, Lane County voters approved an amendment to the Charter directing the Board of Commissioners to convene a Charter Review Committee (CRC) for the purpose of reviewing and recommending changes or updates to the existing charter every ten years. The current CRC completed its work in October 2023 and presented a final report to the Board in October 2023. The Board held a work session and several public hearings. There were three sections of the Charter that were recommended for repeal because they were out of date. This section was established at the same time that a companion provision to create a county level income tax was voted down. Thus, the Charter contains a provision that restricts how an income tax would be used but no county level income tax exists. The Charter Review Committee concluded that any future implementation of an income tax would be best served by the opportunity to define and determine parameters that suit that moment. Recommendation: The Committee determined that Section 34: Income
Proposal: The proposed amendment would repeal Section 34 of the Lane County Charter, which limits the rate of any Lane County income tax and directs how revenues are to be used. There is not currently any Lane County income tax.
Supporters say: that this section serves no modern purpose for the County, that the County is out of compliance with some elements of this provision as they are no longer applicable, and that this section largely serves as a historical artifact and provides no or minimal value to the County.
Opponents are silent. There is no organized opposition to this measure and no one spoke in opposition to it during the public hearings.