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Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend February 28, 2006 Levy-revenue ruling could affect schools By JENNIFER SQUIRES for the Mail Tribune An Oregon Tax Court decision striking down the city of Eugene’s school-funding property tax could threaten an Ashland levy used to support schools. "We’re at risk down here and we’re very concerned," School Board member Amy Amrhein said. The tax court ruled Feb. 16 that Eugene’s tax violates a cap on property tax revenue collected for schools that Measure 5 established. School taxes are limited to $5 per $1,000 of real-market value. Local government taxes are limited to $10 per $1,000. In the case of the two cities, the local government cap had not been reached. Eugene’s tax was modeled after the Ashland Youth Activities Levy. "There’s a lot of talk. We’re not 100 percent sure what it means for us," Ashland Schools superintendent Juli Di Chiro said. Advertisement School district and city officials are meeting with local school supporters associated with the levy and attorneys to determine how the decision could affect Ashland. "We’re looking into our options," City Attorney Mike Franell said. "Based on the ruling of the tax court, it appears our levy may have some problems." No litigation has been filed against the city of Ashland. "That’s up in the air. As far as I know, we don’t have any plans, but maybe someone there might (want to challenge it) based on the Eugene levy," said Don McIntire, the president of the Taxpayers Association of Oregon. The group backed three Eugene taxpayers in the successful challenge of the tax. The Ashland Youth Activities Levy was first approved by voters in 1994 and again in 1997, 2000 and 2003. The levy was created in response to the passage of voter-approved Measure 5, which restricted property tax funding for schools and local governments. McIntire wrote that ballot measure. "If they’re doing it the way they’re doing it (in) Eugene, we held and the court held that it’s unconstitutional," McIntire said. The city likely will file an amicus brief supporting Eugene when Eugene appeals the decision, according to Franell. The Eugene tax levies about $7 million a year in voter-approved property taxes to support high school sports, elementary music, counselors and other school services. The Eugene City Council put the $30 million, four-year tax on the ballot. Eugene’s levy accounts for about 2 percent of the school district’s annual operating budget, according to district officials. In Ashland, the youth activities levy provides 10 percent of the school district’s budget, according to Amrhein. Losing the levy "would be another funding crisis for the schools," she said. The Ashland levy supports all sports programs at the middle and high schools, including intramural and club sports. At elementary schools, it funds music and physical-education instruction, and child development specialists. It also provides for middle-school foreign language classes and music programs. This year, the levy will provide $416,000 to the Ashland School District, according to budget information from the school district administration. The tax court’s Feb. 16 ruling stated that any government that levies a tax that funds education is subject to the $5 per $1,000 school tax limit. It said the law defines educational services as preschool through graduate school. Jennifer Squires is a reporter for the Ashland Daily Tidings. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2006 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback www.bingo.com Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker Custom Build Computers Computer Security Discount Hotel Reservations Debt Consolidation Generic Viagra Windermere Van Vleet Deep Muscle Stimulator Sports Equipment Online Casino Reviews Online Bingo Entertainment Guide Online Casino Fundraisers Sudoku Online Casinos Canada Advertisement s Advertisement