County tax vote delay may affect Springfield.

Byline: Jack Moran The Register-Guard

SPRINGFIELD - Planning to push three money measures of their own this year, city government leaders are wondering whether their proposals will be affected by Lane County commissioners' decision to delay until November putting before voters a tax to fund public safety services.

"I'm not sure if it's good news," City Council President John Woodrow said of the commissioners' plan to postpone a countywide tax vote, which until last week was headed for the May ballot.

"In some ways it may hinder us, and in some ways, it may help," Woodrow said.

City councilors have informally agreed that the May 16 election would be the best time to present Springfield voters with a tax proposal to operate a city jail. Voters in 2004 approved a $28.7 million bond measure to pay for construction of a municipal justice center that will include a new police station, municipal court and, if money is raised to staff it, a 100-bed jail.

It appeared the city's jail operations measure would compete on the May ballot with the county's proposal to create an income tax to fund public safety services, until commissioners decided last week to push back the vote to November's general election.

As it stands now, the November election will be crucial for Springfield's own public safety system. That's when the city intends to seek renewal of separate four-year levies to maintain staffing levels in its police and fire departments. Both issues were supported by voters in November 2002.

While tentative election plans have been established by the City Council, nothing's set in stone at this point.

Councilors will decide in the next month what ballot issues to present in May.

It's possible that either or both of the levy renewal measures could be moved up to the earlier election.

"We're going to have to step back and reassess things, with (the county's) decision to put their issue on the November ballot," Woodrow said.

Mayor Sid Leiken said that if the city does indeed place a proposal on the May ballot, it should have a better chance of passing without competition from Lane County's tax measure. The key for Springfield leaders will be to make it clear to voters why the jail issue is important and explain how proceeds from the new tax will be used, he said.

"Our council is going to have to come out with a solution for the public in May or during a special election" before November, Leiken said. "We've got to give ourselves three months to educate the public and be specific about what this money would be used for."

Some members of the City Council have said they favor asking voters to support a four-year property tax levy to fund jail operations, but others believe a permanent funding source must be identified.

Consultants estimate that it would cost about $2.4 million a year to operate a municipal jail.