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For Immediate Release 05/13/08

Joint Elected Officials Meet Today in Eugene

Contacts: Lane County Board Chair Faye Stewart, 682-4203; Brenda Wilson, City of Eugene Intergovernmental Relations Manager, 682-8441

The Lane County Board of Commissioners meets with Eugene and Springfield City councils at noon today in the McNutt Room at Eugene City Hall.

In addition to updates on transportation and planning, elected officials will explore short and long term solutions for elements of the public safety system currently administered by Lane County. The County’s on-going budget deliberations are being watched closely by both Eugene and Springfield.

Given the failure of Congress to reauthorize the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act, Lane County has developed a budget proposal that does not include federal funding. This is a loss in excess of 20 million dollars to the County’s General Fund, and an equal amount that was dedicated to the County’s Road Fund. While the Road Fund has some reserves it is able to leverage in the near term, 65 percent of the General Fund is used to fund public safety.

Lane County Board Chair Faye Stewart will be seeking short-term collaborative proposals from the cities for prosecutorial services, jail funding, and for the animal regulatory system. He will further propose a work group to develop long-term solutions to the public safety system that is being decimated by budget cuts.

There will be no opportunity for public comment at this meeting. Elected officials are expected to meet again on June 24, 2008 to discuss the Interstate 5 bridge project.

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Amber Fossen
Public Information Officer
Lane County Government
125 E. Eighth Ave.
Eugene, Oregon 97401
(541) 682.3718
(541) 359.9143 (cell)

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