Posts tagged ‘Eugene Government’

Eugene’s Mayors and Its Libraries – A Long-Term View

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This is another post that looks both at the year in review and at the coming year.

There is an interesting pattern across the past three mayors: Ruth Bascom (1993-7), Jim Torrey (1997-2005), and Kitty Piercy (2005-present). Under Bascom the library lost narrowly … very narrowly. Under Torrey the library won in landslides … every win by more than double digits. Under Piercy the library won … but only narrowly. Both wins were solid, but not overwhelming by any stretch of the imagination.

Sources: Eugene Election History – 1896 to present; Lane County Elections.

Measures Included:
May 1994: General Obligation Bonds for new library, emergency equipment, facility repair – $56,207,287.
Nov. 1994: General Obligation Bonds for new library – $26,134,808
Nov. 1998: Four-Year Library Operations Serial Levy. $2,190,000 per year
May 2002: Four-Year Library Local Option Tax
May 2006: Four-Year Local Option Property Tax Levy for Library Operations. $2,687,500 per year for 4 years
May 2015: Five-Year Local Option Levy

Elected Auditor Voting Advantage Over Appointed Auditor by Ward and Region

This chart shows how much better the elected auditor measure did by ward than the appointed auditor measure.

As one would expect based on the geographic distribution of voting for the appointed and elected auditors there is not much variation. However, the least variation was in north Eugene. The greatest variation was in Ward 1 – in the area of the city where many of the leaders behind the elected auditor measure reside.

Source of data: Lane County Election
Definitions:
South Eugene: Wards 1, 2, and 3;
North Eugene: Wards 4 and 5;
West Eugene: Wards 6, 7, and 8.
Map of City of Eugene wards:
https://www.eugene-or.gov/532/Find-Your-Ward

Elected Auditor Voting by Ward and Region

Compared to the appointed auditor there is slightly more regional variation, but still nowhere near most measures in Eugene.

A variation of 40% to 50% between north Eugene and south Eugene is very little.

Source of data: Lane County Election
Definitions:
South Eugene: Wards 1, 2, and 3;
North Eugene: Wards 4 and 5;
West Eugene: Wards 6, 7, and 8.
Map of City of Eugene wards:
https://www.eugene-or.gov/532/Find-Your-Ward

Appointed Auditor Voting by Ward and Region

Compared to the parks measures, there is virtually no variation by ward. The appointed auditor measure placed on the ballot by the city council lost overwhelmingly everywhere.

This figure was left at standard XL layout just to point out that the variation among regions of the city was between 24% and 25%! This is probably the least variation by region in Eugene in decades.

Source of data: Lane County Election
Definitions:
South Eugene: Wards 1, 2, and 3;
North Eugene: Wards 4 and 5;
West Eugene: Wards 6, 7, and 8.
Map of City of Eugene wards:
https://www.eugene-or.gov/532/Find-Your-Ward

Eugene Parks Bond Voting by Ward and Region

The regional pattern is the same as the Parks Levy, only the voting by was lower in each region. South Eugene is the most favorable region of the city and Ward 6 is the least favorable.

Source of data: Lane County Election
Definitions:
South Eugene: Wards 1, 2, and 3;
North Eugene: Wards 4 and 5;
West Eugene: Wards 6, 7, and 8.
Map of City of Eugene wards:
https://www.eugene-or.gov/532/Find-Your-Ward

Eugene Parks Levy Voting by Ward and Region

The pattern is the typical pattern for City of Eugene measures. South Eugene is the most favorable region of the city and Ward 6 is the least favorable.

Source of data: Lane County Election
Definitions:
South Eugene: Wards 1, 2, and 3;
North Eugene: Wards 4 and 5;
West Eugene: Wards 6, 7, and 8.
Map of City of Eugene wards:
https://www.eugene-or.gov/532/Find-Your-Ward

Eugene Park Bond Trend

The measure started under 50% and roughly in a dead heat with no votes. After the ballots were mailed, however, it started to pull away.

QUESTION: City of Eugene Measure 20-289 Bonds to Fund Parks and Recreation Facility Projects: Shall City of Eugene fund park and recreation projects using $39.35 million in general obligation bonds? If the bonds are approved, they will be payable from taxes on property or property ownership that are not subject to the limits of sections 11 and 11b, Article XI of the Oregon Constitution.
IF YES/NO: Is that strongly or somewhat? IF DON’T KNOW: Which way do you lean?
METHODOLOGY: 200 live telephone interviews of likely City of Eugene 2018 Primary voters were conducted each of April 2-3, April 16-17 and April 30-May 2, 2018. The margin of error for each survey at the sample median is plus or minus 7%.

Eugene Park Levy Trend

The measure never trailed and support exploded after the ballots and voters’ pamphlets were mailed.
QUESTION: City of Eugene Measure 20-288 Five-Year Parks and Recreation Operations and Maintenance Local Option Levy: Shall Eugene levy $3,150,000 per year for five years beginning July, 2018, for parks and recreation facilities operation and maintenance? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
IF YES/NO: Is that strongly or somewhat? IF DON’T KNOW: Which way do you lean?
METHODOLOGY: 200 live telephone interviews of likely City of Eugene 2018 Primary voters were conducted each of April 2-3, April 16-17 and April 30-May 2, 2018. The margin of error for each survey at the sample median is plus or minus 7%.

Broad Support for Eugene Auditor – In Principle

There appears to be strong support for a Eugene auditor in some form. This blog has chronicled how Eugeneans see many problems in the city that remain unaddressed.

This  question was asked prior to the campaign and the collapse of the two auditor measures’ support. It is possible this is biased upward. However, a sizeable percentage of people voiced support here who supported neither measure.

QUESTION: Regardless of your opinion on the two auditor measures, in principle do you support or oppose the creation of an auditor for the City of Eugene?
IF SUPPORT/OPPOSE: Is that strongly or somewhat? IF DON’T KNOW: Which way do you lean?
METHODOLOGY: 200 live telephone interviews of likely City of Eugene 2018 Primary voters were conducted April 2-3, 2018. The margin of error at the sample median is plus or minus 7%.

Eugene Appointed Auditor Trend

Support for the appointed auditor, the city council proposal, never came close to 50%.

QUESTION: City of Eugene Measure 20-287 Amends Charter: Establishes Council-appointed performance auditor, audit review board: Shall City Charter be amended to require City Council to appoint a performance auditor to audit city activities?
IF YES/NO: Is that strongly or somewhat? IF DON’T KNOW: Which way do you lean?
METHODOLOGY: 200 live telephone interviews of likely City of Eugene 2018 Primary voters were conducted each of April 2-3, April 16-17 and April 30-May 2, 2018. The margin of error for each survey at the sample median is plus or minus 7%.