Commissioner questions scope of new Eugene payroll tax

Middle 50s along the coast.

Wee hearing from the lane county commissioner blasting a new tax from the city of eugene.

Jay bozievich says not only is the tax unfair, it shouldn apply to him and many others.

Kezi 9 news reporter jacob roberts spoke with the commissioner today and has the story.

Jay bozievich/lane county commissioner?wel see the city in court and see if the court of law agrees with their interpretatio?

Commissioner jay bozievich said that a last resort, but it an option if his concerns over a new community safety payroll tax are not addressed.

The payroll tax is expected to bring in about $23.6 million each year, much of that will go to eugene police.

The tax applies to employers, employees and those who are self- employed.

If your employer office is in eugene city limits, youl have to pay the tax.

But what does that mean for the county?

The county office is in eugene, but commissioners don all live in town.

Bozievich says people who earn money outside the city shouldn have to pay up just because their employers office is in eugene.

Jay bozievich/lane county commissioner?people that work for contractors or that are salespeople.

Their employer may be located inside the city and they made never step foot inside in the city or live in the cit?

Jacob robert says, commissioner bozievich says he doesn have an office here in eugene.

However, lane county does?and that could make the difference in deciding who has to open up their wallets and who does?

Even though local governments are exempt from the tax, the city says employees of those governments may not be, including their own city employees.

Laura hammond says, the city of eugene as an employer, located within the city, the employer doesn't have to pay the tax but the employees do?

It could be the same for the county.

Bozievich said he wants to raise awareness about this now, before the tax goes into effect.

He also brought on an attorney to help make his case.

In eugene, jr,