Eugene fire service fee could head to 2025 ballot after petition drive succeeds

by Alan Torres

Eugene Register-Guard

Key Points

• The referendum petition challenging Eugene's fire fee has been certified.

• Eugene City Council has a chance to react to the petition and will most likely urge residents to vote for it in November 2025.

• Petitioners described residents as "eager" to "have a direct say in the city's approach to funding."

  
  

The petition challenging Eugene's fire service fee has received enough signatures to refer the city council-backed fee to a ballot, the Eugene City Recorder certified Monday.

Under the referendum process, the fee will not be implemented unless it is approved by voters in a city-wide election. Because the deadline for the May election has passed and city referendums can only appear on ballots in May or November, if the city council doesn't vote to withdraw the fee, this election will be held on November 4, 2025.

The Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce, which led the referendum, described the petition's success as a reflection of "a strong desire among community members to have a direct say in the city’s approach to funding."

"Many questioned whether the fee truly strengthens fire services, and they were troubled by what they see as a lack of opportunity to weigh in on a permanent fee that will financially impact their families and businesses," according to a Chamber of Commerce press release.

The city council has 20 days from Monday to respond to the petition. Based on the council's tentative agenda, this will most likely be April 9. At that time, councilors can vote to repeal the proposed fee, write a statement that will be included in the voter pamphlet, and submit an alternate measure to appear on the ballot.

Representatives for the chamber described the fee as premature for coming before a more in-depth conversation on cuts and offered to help the city "identify budget priorities, make reductions where needed, and then make a case for and provide the public with a chance to vote on new funding if necessary."

Meanwhile, Eugene Save Our Services, a committee advocating for the fee, urged voters to vote yes, arguing that without the revenue, the city will face $11.5 million in budget cuts that "could result in slower fire and emergency response; a reduction of public safety officers; the elimination of services that protect people and animals; reduced access to the public library, community centers, and pools; and a reduction in vital homeless and health crisis services."

Both sides have framed themselves as broad coalitions while portraying the other as a narrow interest group.

Chamber members accused the city council of "assuming the public lacks the knowledge to participate" in discussions around the city budget and that it had gathered 8,413 signatures before certification. Based on voter registration sampling, 46% of signers were Democrats, 32% were unaffiliated, 20% were Republicans, and 2% were members of a third party.

Eugene SOS, citing Oregon campaign finance data, noted that as of the time the petition was filed, 99% of the funding for it came from six sources. The group also pointed to a list of fire fee supporters that includes leaders of SquareOne Villages, Greenhill Humane Society, AFSCME Local 1724 (which represents City of Eugene employees), the Springfield Eugene Tenant Association, and The Friends and Foundation of the Eugene Public Library.

Eugene SOS invited interested community members to attend a campaign kickoff event on Thursday, March 27, at 5:30 p.m. at Ninkasi at 155 Blair Blvd in Eugene, with "Special Guest" former U.S. Rep. Peter DeFazio.

Read more at:

• "Yes" campaign's website: EugeneSOS.com

• "No" campaign's website: EugeneForeverFee.com

Alan Torres covers local government for the Register-Guard. He can be reached over email at atorres@registerguard.com, on