Vote “Yes” on Ballot Measure 20-275 to Continue Fixing Our Streets

By Rob Zako

October 11, 2017

UPDATE 10/23/2017: Official information about Ballot Measure 20-275 is now posted on the City of Eugene’s website.

Over the past 10 years, the City of Eugene has reduced a backlog of potholed, crumbling streets with two successful bond measures. This bond will continue that important work.

1) IT CONTINUES A SUCCESSFUL PROGRAM. In 2007, Eugene had over $200 million in needed street repairs. Citizens wanted the potholes fixed—and thanks to bond measures voters approved in 2008 and 2012, the backlog was cut in half. This measure continues the same property tax rate. To avoid paying far more in the future to rebuild streets, we should fund cost-effective ongoing maintenance.

2) IT’S OUR RESPONSIBILITY. Federal and state governments do not provide sufficient funding to keep our streets in good repair. We need to provide funding ourselves.

3) IT’S FAIR. This measure will fund about 90 repaving projects, across all city wards. A tax on properties spreads the burden fairly. Everyone benefits; everyone helps pay.

4) IT’S ACCOUNTABLE. As before, this measure clearly spells out which streets will be fixed. A separate volunteer citizen oversight committee will review all work, and an outside auditor will certify spending. Money will be used as voters intend.

5) IT BENEFITS KIDS, SENIORS & ALTER ABLED. Like past measures, this one allocates a portion of the funding to make our transportation system better and safer for children, the elderly, alter-abled, and others who prefer to walk or ride a bike. Past measures have improved our popular off-street path network, addressed dangerous areas with better pedestrian crossings, and created safer routes to schools, parks and commercial areas. These projects also have been well distributed in neighborhoods all over the city. More of this work is needed, and this measure increases the portion devoted to such projects from 6.5% to 10%. This measure will help make our neighborhoods safer.

PLEASE VOTE “YES”: We should continue to maintain and strengthen our transportation system with responsible, necessary investments. We urge you to vote “Yes” on Ballot Measure 20-275!

Background

Voter-approved general obligation bond measures — “GO bonds” — are key to Eugene’s pavement preservation program.

In November 2008, Eugene voters approved Ballot Measure 20-145, a five-year, $35.9-million bond measure promising to fix 32 streets in Eugene. The measure cost an average of $0.61 per $1,000 of assessed value each year, or $102 per year for an average homeowner. By the time the funds were fully expended, the City of Eugene had repaired 54 streets and a number of off-street paths.

In November 2012, Eugene voters resoundingly approved Ballot Measure 20-197, a new $43-million bond measure to continue the street repair program for another five years to fix 76 more streets and provide an average of $516,000 per year for bicycle and pedestrian projects. Set to expire in 2018, the measure is costing an average of $0.65 per $1,000 of assessed value each year, or $127 per year for an average homeowner.

Now in November 2017, Eugene voters are being asked to approve Ballot Measure 20-275, a new $51.2-million bond measure to continue the street repair program for another five years to fix approximately 88 lane-miles of roads and fund bicycle and pedestrian projects. The measure is estimated to cost an average of $0.65 per $1,000 of assessed value each year (the same rate as the 2012 bond measure), or $148 per year for an average homeowner.

Because of these bond measures, plus about $3 million a year from Eugene’s 5-cent-per-gallon local gas tax, the Public Works Department has made significant progress on reducing the backlog of needed street repairs. The 2017 Pavement Management Report showed progress had been made on the condition of Eugene’s streets in large part due to the additional funds available from the GO bonds, but more work was needed to further reduce the backlog of repairs on the 1,356 lane-miles of streets in the City. Specifically, the 2017 report calculated the backlog of repairs on improved asphalt streets was $92 million—a reduction in the estimated backlog of needed repairs of $79 million since the 2008 bond was approved. Despite this downward trend, the backlog is projected to continue to grow unless there is an increase in funding that is both sufficient and sustainable.

To ensure accountability for the expenditure of voter-approved bonds to fix streets, an outside auditor reviews the City of Eugene’s use of bond proceeds, determines whether proceeds were used as approved by voters, and prepares a public report.

In addition, the citizen Street Repair Review Panel meets several times a year to look at recently completed street repair projects, learn more about plans for future repair projects, review in depth the expenditure of bond funds to fix streets, and produce an annual report.

Project Maps

Other Resources

Vote “Yes” on Ballot Measure 20-275 to Continue Fixing Our Streets

Background

Project Maps

Other Resources

News Stories

General Information

2017 Ballot Measure 20-275

2012 Ballot Measure 20-197

2008 Ballot Measure 20-145