[{"_1":2,"_122":-5,"_123":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,110],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6563904,"mediaKeyId","3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f","parentId",3312500,"title","Budget committee hears public comment, schedules final motions for May 28; minutes approved","audioSeconds",62,"startMs",867000,"endMs",929000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f&start=867&end=929","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f/thumbnail_867000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6563904/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Budget-committee-hears-public-comment-schedules-final-motions-for-May-28-minutes-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563904-07e100ddfe53068539402385b0735df3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429173&Signature=UWuwDmPLW~q6n0a4BJ1s~28thzuu8~wLV-FnyvtrysWZsLLc~X5IJmzq1vNzz79B4FwTAXHgt3wOYp9y7o7K6Qy9HyfOdzz0AS95B2-2cXT7DhRtVooG5nq0hQU-jTO9s0uWD3J68NLhBPbEyhYKMXAP~5M2rCg5Sv1V9gpAnj2amGLugH4yxPVbgNRZA3wN91-OgAuunST5PMjeSpaosI2rXvoF8tB5USmgV103IpxWGi~9lM8rUBPoobc~vIzZRvhn1YAnpm0Zx77-hyhFE1gadztH7i7EyIfdTRqfTB7E-xnWFjTHSy6c2KV2zpkXWPDO52To0fQW4RSjsR1whw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Eugene, OR","date","2025-05-09T20:40:35Z","article","The Eugene Budget Committee concluded a long public‑comment session on May 14 and moved into deliberations, asking detailed operational and fiscal questions of staff and scheduling the formal motion and voting process for its May 28 meeting.

The committee approved the minutes from the April 30 meeting at the start of the May 14 session. Councilor Clark moved to approve the minutes and Councilor Evans seconded; the chair called for hands and the minutes were approved without recorded roll‑call names.

Procedure and next steps
- The committee will accept additional public comment in person on May 21 and hold a hybrid public hearing on May 28, the same night it will entertain final motions on the amended 2025–27 biennial budget.
- Committee members were encouraged to coordinate motion language with their budget buddies and staff ahead of May 28 to avoid conflicting or duplicative proposals; staff can be consulted to craft technically valid motions.

Deliberations and follow‑up
During the round‑robin deliberation, members asked staff for follow‑up information on Measure 5 compression, which levies and funds are not subject to compression, details on Greenhill contract exposure and county contributions, the costs and options for restoring Cahoots‑level service, and staffing and funding details for alternative‑response pilots. Staff committed to providing additional fiscal breakdowns and operational details by email and in follow‑up materials.

Action taken
- Motion: approve minutes from the April 30 meeting. Mover: Councilor Clark. Second: Councilor Evans. Outcome: approved.

Ending
Committee members reiterated the need to work collaboratively on potential restoration motions if supplemental revenue emerges; the committee adjourned the May 14 meeting and will reconvene for final motions May 28.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Eugene Budget Committee Meeting: May 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","After a long public‑comment period on proposed cuts, the Eugene Budget Committee discussed questions for staff and set May 28 for final motions; the committee approved minutes from April 30 at the meeting.","taxTitle","Eugene , Lane County, Oregon","taxId",2848,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563908,"City staff outline levies, street bond, and payroll‑tax review as budget gaps loom",478,3562000,4040000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f&start=3562&end=4040","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f/thumbnail_3562000.jpg","/articles/6563908/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/City-staff-outline-levies-street-bond-and-payrolltax-review-as-budget-gaps-loom","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563908-721f146fac38dc68ef03d0a5dc799f39/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429173&Signature=lJRNlFXOP5uwchpgaSB9VmFv~hnRPPsCtJWjXWi2PGgpV8Ov5PtdmSVLIbFjqbvxqi5OLIlu4ulSLlo1kqV3IJUA9ICWR6l6JxmcbAlVMUksx9XXj15l-2yG5TMskAXu4V70uPoFGnlFf4qa5FDJDiX-5Zcb67F4szFuxP19bv4MGap6pbzWz1cP7jibjWtt8ZpM02qF9ghQJnkTjCfkH-wRjS9whcd6sUFuZ5nutObqpeBYyGnSdSJrZ7DqmHXsbCBxhi17rBE8PEP-ichqoy20PIlAcua4SG3vNvsi6lDoSy0k8qDGKPwJWFBsrHM3EmT1pYpjEKJdQn5WUfKApw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City of Eugene finance staff reviewed potential revenue measures, tax‑cap constraints and the schedule for renewal of local levies during the Budget Committee meeting on May 14, providing detail on levy amounts and timing as the committee contemplates an $11.5 million set of recommended cuts.

Veil Miller, the city’s chief financial officer, told the committee that the city is roughly $0.34 per $1,000 of assessed value away from triggering Measure 5 compression across general‑government levies — a state tax‑cap consequence that can reduce revenue for multiple jurisdictions when local option levies are added.

Levy and bond details presented
- Library levy (voter approved Nov. 2020): raises $2,850,000 annually and expires 06/30/2026; council would need to adopt a resolution by mid‑February 2026 to place a May 2026 measure on the ballot. (CFO presentation)
- Parks and recreation levy (voter approved May 2023): raises $5,300,000 annually and expires at the end of fiscal year 2028.
- Street bond (voter approved Nov. 2022): $61,200,000 over five years to repair 44.6 lane miles and fund walking and biking projects; bond expires at the end of fiscal year 2029.

Community Safety Payroll Tax (CSPT)
Miller summarized the CSPT (established by city ordinance in June 2019 and implemented January 1, 2021), which funds a range of police, fire, municipal court, homeless and youth services. The ordinance requires a citizen advisory board review and a council hearing about continuation by March 30, 2027; if council refers continuation it could go to voters in November 2027, otherwise the tax would sunset after 12/31/2028.

Compression and tradeoffs
Miller said new general‑government local option levies increase the risk of Measure 5 compression; the remaining 34¢ under the cap could produce about $6,000,000 per year if used but would raise compression exposure for other taxing districts. \"Compression essentially creates competition among taxing districts,\" Miller said.

Ending
Committee members asked staff follow‑up questions about the share of various budgets funded by the street bond and CSPT, and next steps to align work on potential ballot measures with council calendars; staff said council work would need to begin in the fall for a timely ballot placement.","City finance staff told the Budget Committee that voter‑approved levies and a measure‑5 tax cap constrain options, outlined the schedule for possible levy renewals, and summarized the Community Safety Payroll Tax review required in 2027.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563912,"Residents urge preservation of libraries, Amazon Pool and Sheldon Community Center amid proposed cuts",5005,1295000,6300000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f&start=1295&end=6300","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f/thumbnail_1295000.jpg","/articles/6563912/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Residents-urge-preservation-of-libraries-Amazon-Pool-and-Sheldon-Community-Center-amid-proposed-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563912-ff5c6dcf3881bb27d3f918e2c6ec17e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429173&Signature=aXiHQ8i9DytKI1GW8vF3GxKqoEKmjbFAho2jggSogMoNJueX7tJooWjU0sZzM4X-iKGDP0oudjfHJakvcjPRr0k282YlVZdIiQQSF~ZL5CJEkktVK8TQuUaGfZ8B1V-PVZIzVVABx0rNubVvE1ZWjTPrpU-hl395-y2UChOOuJgcMoGSWgZ4EaQZKZzWZMSJq~LAl1rzuVtOg9pJK1iStsAqPCYF5EBzlJFn0e6MYYuuH~p89wQT5Sf0xYL~AoZ6lF8~WKn9cRxnvgAXe5Ef6uNXM~GNnI8Vs5ddDuM6UGj9qlFyXCqvhvc5MLAFWVG3iegKcI3DxisRz4kHaPMIWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Hundreds of residents’ uses of Eugene’s libraries, pools and community centers were the focus of extended public comment at the Budget Committee meeting on May 14, as citizens told members that proposed reductions would remove essential summer programs, drop library hours and close community facilities relied upon by children, seniors and disabled residents.

Speakers described full programs, long wait lists for summer care and lines at Amazon Pool during heat waves. “These are vital services,” said Brianna Rolo, a sixth‑grade teacher and longtime Sheldon Community Center staffer. “Community centers, libraries and recreational areas…bring people together in such special ways that they should be prioritized in our city budget.”

Why it matters: Witnesses said the services provide child care, swim lessons and therapeutic exercise for seniors and disabled residents, and that access to free, noncommercial public space is especially important for low‑income and unhoused community members.

Key testimony
- Jojo Breslin and others emphasized Cahoots in tandem with libraries and recreation, arguing alternatives to policing and hospitalization often rely on community services.
- Parents and program staff said Sheldon summer camps fill within minutes and have long wait lists; Heather Jones described a program where her daughter receives childcare and said losing the center would cause significant hardship.
- Several speakers emphasized that Amazon Pool provides lanes, lessons and senior aquatic exercise and that volumes spike during hot weather. “There is a line out the door every single time,” one speaker said about Amazon Pool.

Budget context and levy timeline
City CFO Veil Miller reminded the committee that a voter‑approved library levy (approved 2020) raises $2,850,000 annually and expires June 30, 2026; staff said council must start work this fall if it wants a May 2026 ballot measure. The parks and recreation levy (approved May 2023) raises $5,300,000 per year and expires at fiscal year 2028.

Numbers and clarifications
- Library levy: $2,850,000 annually; expires 06/30/2026 (CFO presentation).
- Parks and recreation levy: $5,300,000 annually; current levy expires fiscal year 2028 (CFO presentation).

Ending
Speakers urged committee members to use reserves, targeted cuts, or one‑time funding swaps to avoid service losses; a number of councilors said they would explore restoration options if new revenues emerged before final budget votes scheduled for May 28.","Public comment during the Eugene Budget Committee hearing stressed the local importance of the downtown library, Amazon Pool, Sheldon Community Center and other recreation services, with witnesses describing high demand and life‑saving or life‑changing services.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563914,"Greenhill Humane Society contract and animal‑services cuts draw strong public opposition",0,1812000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f&start=1812&end=1812","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f/thumbnail_1812000.jpg","/articles/6563914/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Greenhill-Humane-Society-contract-and-animalservices-cuts-draw-strong-public-opposition","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563914-9a3f1820da8bea2c94f64c394ef50dca/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429173&Signature=al0r8nsLkCizwIO3OLNZ0KxSZn1xtQnmNFDtsqDBcjRIsNfiixKzdQUzjaYuUt5a~G~W~5zZr0UjMmWW0OMJJfbRxc-9bvpp0~mcxuVCrVT3Jzp7brbGT~RIpay9Hd5dEezIlEN03Fd4yNVorehyHNtmQhh609ptIy2BwP8-3tzEmxjEr7DjVJSArwl5duQxD-3TO9l1q~4xiyHIiPynWc8uYatqiEwyA6IVqu9phJ7lFoGu7q6vBQYNdWXT~IVPH59~7QV~wVD1SZWHySZOX3wWjleZLlnehkyrKfgTK6nzGxLImX8MEib0S0egIqlZWd8ICuJ9oPiugMV24AuSag__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of residents and Greenhill Humane Society leaders told the Eugene Budget Committee on May 14 that cutting the city’s animal‑services budget and the sheltering contract would create public‑safety and animal‑welfare risks.

Cary Lieberman, executive director of Greenhill Humane Society, testified that Greenhill has been a contract partner with the City of Eugene since 2012 and that the shelter handled nearly 1,600 Eugene animals last year — a 32% increase compared with pre‑COVID numbers. “There’s no room to cut the sheltering contract,” Lieberman said.

Why it matters: Witnesses said the city’s contracted sheltering and animal‑control services perform duties tied to public safety — removing dangerous animals, investigating cruelty and neglect, responding to animals left in hot cars and providing a centralized way to report and recover lost pets. Speakers warned that without the contract, police and emergency responders would be left to manage matters for which they lack specialized capacity.

What speakers said
- Kelly Clayton urged the committee to reject the proposed elimination of animal services and the Greenhill sheltering contract and warned cuts would leave “dangerous, suffering, and abandoned animals…with nowhere to go.”
- Nicole (senior foster and 25‑year rescuer) referenced Oregon law and said ORS 609 requires municipalities to ensure sheltering/animal‑control services are provided either directly or by contract; she said the law requires impoundment authority be available.
- Cary Lieberman said the city’s contract has not risen to cover inflation since 2020 and currently covers less than half of Greenhill’s actual costs.

Budget context and staff remarks
City staff presented an amended biennial budget that includes potential reductions across library, recreation and cultural services, alternate‑response programs, neighborhood services and the animal‑welfare/sheltering contract. Committee members asked for specifics on the financial exposure and whether the county contributes to Greenhill. Staff said some details would be provided after the meeting.

Numbers and clarifications cited
- Greenhill reported sheltering nearly 1,600 Eugene animals last year (Cary Lieberman testimony).
- Witnesses referenced ORS 609 as the relevant state law describing municipal animal‑control responsibilities (speaker: Nicole).

Ending
Public commenters urged committee members to preserve the contract; several committee members said they would explore options to restore or reallocate funding if alternate revenue sources become available before final budget action on May 28.

","Public commenters and Greenhill leadership told the Budget Committee proposed reductions to the city’s animal‑services contract and sheltering fees would create public‑safety and animal‑welfare gaps; Greenhill said the shelter handled nearly 1,600 Eugene animals last year.",{"_33":111,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":112,"_41":113,"_43":114,"_45":115,"_47":116,"_49":117,"_51":118,"_53":119,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":120,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":121,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6563919,"Residents, staff urge restoration or replacement of Cahoots mobile crisis service as city weighs cuts",650,6960000,7610000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f&start=6960&end=7610","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3312500-5476f08e56a7357e04c681ba1d06db3f/thumbnail_6960000.jpg","/articles/6563919/Eugene/Lane-County/Oregon/Residents-staff-urge-restoration-or-replacement-of-Cahoots-mobile-crisis-service-as-city-weighs-cuts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6563919-6b06e9dda903d334eddc37e67173544a/orig.mp4?Expires=1775429173&Signature=WjN3fABWIWLJSy6xlmbVnaW~OoddIYp0KRm8IwWluKm1~-GCzrLsE6fat9ssJMGKm5jTd23fJjhJM4c-Yd4z0wcVgZaxmy374ISJ8-MwguAo~pN9Dww8Uhxz4BDPHFfWZU7XDUeeC8B~DAowamygliomi-LN40i9e6c~0047ryimyUqCPkKONJar8JZzcFKXcK5hlxqH0VLmOKSAK97PBTNy-ebRmPoyb01US6Rf3hKzSisR8zF~9h7G2DM9woiYjNz6H9QaxxonphBb4aD6eLdlYyYQmnUcBxWbQkVosLTRw5cezHKWt7xZDgf0d-iNvUrAm6XR~1ognIosaMsgeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dozens of Eugene residents urged the Budget Committee on May 14 to preserve funding for Cahoots, the mobile crisis and community-response program, as city staff described an expanding mix of alternative-response units and uncertainty about who will provide some crisis services in coming months.

Speakers said Cahoots diverts calls from police, emergency rooms and ambulances and saves money and lives; staff from the city’s fire and police departments described a patchwork of mobile medical, county-run crisis teams and new local pilot programs that have stepped in since White Bird/Cahoots reduced or ended its contract earlier this spring.

The appeals came during a 90-minute public-comment period that drew 34 registered speakers, many of them former Cahoots staff, medical providers and community organizations. “Cahoots is an essential life‑saving service,” said Ryder Hales, a Ward 1 resident. “We can set an example for the nation one way or another.”

Why it matters: Cahoots historically handled mental‑health and low‑acuity medical calls that otherwise required more expensive police, ambulance or hospital responses. Committee members and staff said the city is working with Lane County and provider partners but that gaps remain while services are reconfigured.

What speakers said
- Natalie (paramedic student and volunteer) said Cahoots has “diverted hundreds of calls a year from police, fire and emergency rooms” and that the program is “the most affordable public‑safety option.”
- Jojo Breslin, a long‑time community advocate, told the committee Cahoots “pays for itself in dividends” by reducing costly emergency responses and jail and court referrals.
- Former Cahoots employees including Michael Williams and Alicia Rabideau urged the committee to fund a rebuilt program or a new nonprofit to run the service.

City staff presentations
- Mike Kavan, fire chief for Eugene‑Springfield Fire, and Police Chief Chris Skinner described a suite of alternative responses the city is deploying or piloting: basic life‑support (BLS) ambulances, a squad unit, an alternative response (AR) unit funded with short‑term grants, senior‑response and community paramedicine pilots, and a downtown co‑responder pairing police with behavioral‑health specialists.
- Veil Miller, the city’s chief financial officer, said the county established a standalone Lane County mobile crisis program in 2024 that is expanding toward 24/7 coverage and that multiple limited‑duration state grants funded several local pilots. Miller cautioned that many of those grants expire this year and next, and that long‑term sustainability depends on securing Medicaid reimbursement or other recurring revenue sources.

Numbers cited in testimony and staff remarks
- The city’s prior contract support for White Bird/Cahoots was described in public comments as just under $1 million annually for Eugene operations; community presenters estimated it would take roughly $2.75 million per year (about $5.5 million across the biennium) to fully restore a local Cahoots‑level program, based on recent FOIA data shared publicly.
- City staff said call volumes have grown substantially over the past decade and that much of the growth has been for lower‑acuity medical and behavioral‑health contacts that alternative units now handle.

Discussion and next steps
Budget Committee members asked staff detailed operational questions about how BLS ambulances, the squad and co‑responder teams are deployed and whether the county program and a rebuilt local Cahoots would duplicate services. Staff said there is no legal bar to having both county and local providers but emphasized the need for careful contract design, an RFP process and a reliable funding plan before restoring a contract.

Committee members signaled interest in exploring supplemental funding or a targeted restoration if revenue options appear; the committee will return for final motions on May 28. Several members said a supplemental budget or a one‑time swap of funding sources could be used to restore some services if new revenue materializes.

Ending
Speakers and committee members agreed on urgency: several testified there are people who currently rely on Cahoots who will be at increased risk without a sustainable replacement, and staff said they will continue coordinating with county partners and community providers while the committee finalizes budget recommendations.","Dozens of residents told the Eugene Budget Committee the city should preserve or replace Cahoots — the long-running mobile crisis and community response program — as staff outlined alternative-response programs and the county expands mobile crisis coverage.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Budget committee hears public comment, schedules final motions for May 28; minutes approved

City staff outline levies, street bond, and payroll‑tax review as budget gaps loom

Residents urge preservation of libraries, Amazon Pool and Sheldon Community Center amid proposed cuts

Greenhill Humane Society contract and animal‑services cuts draw strong public opposition

Residents, staff urge restoration or replacement of Cahoots mobile crisis service as city weighs cuts