How did the Council decide on a payroll tax?

A Community Safety Revenue Team was formed to develop a funding recommendation for the City Manager. The Revenue Team included three City Councilors, current and former Budget Committee members, and the Chair of the Police Commission. The revenue team studied many different types of funding options, ranging from levies to a combination of other taxes or fees. You can see the list and analysis of all revenue alternatives considered in the Revenue Team’s Final Report. Also see key discussion points from the Revenue Team’s recent analysis of two specific alternative funding options: River Road/Santa Clara Annexation and a City personal income tax.


The team took into consideration the amount of money needed, the administrative effort and potential costs, and the stability and reliability of the funds. They also considered the fairness of the different options, their feasibility within Eugene and how the option related to the community safety need. The team also reviewed the potential economic, environmental, and social equity impacts – also known as the triple bottom line. They focused on a payroll tax as they concluded their research.


In the long term, gross payroll appears to be a sustainable and growing revenue source that can weather economic cycles and keep pace with general and wage inflation impacts on recommended service funding levels.

Show All Answers

1. Why do the City’s community safety services need more funding?
2. How did the Council decide on a payroll tax?
3. What is a payroll tax?
4. How will the City be held accountable with money earned from the payroll tax?
5. Who will be on the community review panel?
6. Will public employees have to pay the payroll tax?
7. What do I get for my money?
8. Why isn’t money from the marijuana tax, or other taxes, being used instead of a payroll tax?
9. How is it legal that I can be taxed for local services if I don't live in Eugene and don't have representation there? (i.e., no taxation without representation)