NOZZLES UP, DOWN: LOCALS DEBATE CITY GAS TAX.

Byline: Edward Russo The Register-Guard

Mary Hildreth, a Eugene voter, wasn't up to speed on the details of Eugene's proposed 3-cents-per-gallon gas tax increase.

Filling up at a south Eugene gas station, Hi?ldreth said she planned to vote in the Nov. 6 election but wasn't sure what the gas tax money would be used for.

But when told that the money would fix city streets, she quickly made up her mind.

"I'm for it," the retired teacher said Wednesday, as she bought gas for her Subaru Outback. "We need the streets repaired. That's for sure."

Across town, north Eugene resident Stephanie Flow had a different take. Interviewed at a gas station recently, Flow said she doesn't trust that city officials will use the money solely for street repairs. She's planning to vote against the increase.

"If there was exact accountability I would be in favor of it," Flow said. "But there's never exact accountability."

Voters should start receiving their ballots in the mail this weekend. The lean ballots will contain just two statewide measures - Measures 49 and 50 - and, in Eugene's case, two local ones - the gas tax and downtown urban renewal.

The debate on Eugene's gas tax increase has been low key. Most of the City Council supports the increase, but councilors have not actively campaigned for the increase. The opponents, local gas station owners, aren't investing much money or energy in the fight, partly because they believe voters will reject the increase.

Motorists have differing views on whether to increase the city's present nickel-a-gallon gas tax to 8 cents. The current tax generates $3.4 million a year for street work. But the City Council wants 3 more cents a gallon, which would pull in another $2 million a year for road maintenance.

The city already has the highest local gas tax in the state, but city officials say more money is needed to help tackle a $170 million backlog of street repairs. Even with the proposed tax increase, the backlog would continue to grow, though not as fast as it would without the tax increase, city officials say.

Some residents, such as Flow, are skeptical that city officials will use the gas tax revenue to fix Eugene's cracked and bumpy streets. Others think the tax puts Eugene stations at a competitive disadvantage with stations outside the city, where local gas taxes are low or nonexistent.

But some residents agree with Hildreth that the gas tax is an appropriate way to pay for street repairs.

Plus, 3 cents more a gallon isn't that much considering that the price of gas is near $3 a gallon, they say.

"I've lived in a couple of places in my life, and Eugene, by far, has the worst road conditions that I've ever experienced," said Daniel Jacobs, a University of Oregon student.

He particularly dislikes driving on a rough stretch of East 18th Avenue. "I feel a 3-cent increase is definitely worth the benefit," Jacobs said.

But back in north Eugene, Flow, a contractor, said officials should consider boosting other fees to raise road-repair money.

"I come from California," she said. "I was shocked when, after we moved here, we paid $32 to get our car registered. We paid $300 in Los Angeles."

The state's current two-year vehicle registration fee is $54. That fee is set by the state, not local governments.

If the Legislature doubled the registration fee, "It's amazing how much money that would generate," Flow said.

She said she doesn't like the local gas tax for another reason. "People who really have a hard time with money don't need to pay more for gas," Flow said. "It's like food. You have to have it."

Without gas, "how do you get around?" she said.

PAYING AT THE PUMP

Measure 20-132 would increase Eugene's gas tax 3 cents a gallon.

Arguments for: City doesn't have enough money to keep up with street repairs. Adding 3 cents a gallon would produce another $2 million a year for street work.

Behind the measure: Mayor Kitty Piercy and City Council majority.

Arguments against: Local gas tax puts Eugene gas station owners at competitive disadvantage with stations in Springfield and the county.

Against the measure: Gas station owners.