Measure 24-92

Arguments in Favor:
League of Women Voters supports Measure 24-92 because:

* Our increasing property taxes and sewer and water rates are
subsidizing new growth; this should not continue. Costs of capital
improvements (sewer, water, transportation, parks, storm drainage)
caused by new growth should be paid by new growth. Measure 24-92
provides a needed policy statement in Salem's Charter to ensure new
growth pays its fair share of the cost of services.
*Measure 24-92 requires new growth to pay up to, but not more than its fair
share of capital improvement costs. The Measure's requirement that System
Development Charges (SDC's) must be levied at the "full extent allowed by state
law" means SDC's equal to the actual cost of growth-related services.
* Measure 24-92 relies on existing state law passed in
1989 and supported by the building industry and cities as a fair way to pay
for growth. It does not contain new, untested, or radical ideas. It simply
requires Salem to do what state law already authorizes it to do--enact fair SDC'S.
* Measure 24-92 expands Salem's current SDC's to include a charge for storm
drainage and flood control facilities.
* Measure 24-92 requires currently-exempt commercial and
industrial development to pay improvement fees for sewer, water, and parks.
* Artificially low SDC's cannot be justified in the name of affordable
housing. Affordable housing is achieved by building houses people can
afford. And offering rent and mortgage loan assistance targeted to low-income households.
Why should we subsidize housing for all homebuyers, regardless of their income?
* SDC's do not restrict growth. Many rapidly growing
Oregon cities have higher SDC's than Salem's. Builders in other cities
recognize the benefits of smart growth. Why not Salem?
* Citizens should decide how costs of growth are financed. City Council's
current policy is that the community should subsidize growth. If you think growth
should pay its fair share, vote YES on Measure 24-92.

(This information provided by Roz Shirack,
President, League of Women Voters)

The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Marion County nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument. Marion County does not correct errors in spelling or grammar.

HEADLINE: " `96 EXISTING HOME SALES HIT RECORD"
(Statesman-Journal 1-28-97)

HEADLINE: " `96 HOUSING STARTS HIT 8 YEAR HIGH"
(Statesman-Journal 1-23-97)

WHO PROFITS FROM THIS GROWTH?


Let's look at the public records for Deer Ridge Park Estates.

Developer's average land cost per lot $ 2,900
Developer invested for improvements - per lot$13,630
Total investment per lot$16,530
Average Deer Ridge Park Estates lot sales price $36,000
Minus Developer's land and improvement costs -$16,530
Developer's average PROFIT per lot $19,470

That's 118% profit!


To those same lots, the city committed an additional $24,000 per
lot worth of streets, sewer lines, water lines, schools, libraries, police and
fire protection, land fill costs, etc. The developer's modest portion
of those same services and facilities was $2,350.

That leaves $21,650 that the rest of the community is stuck with!

Where does this $21,650 per lot come from?


HEADLINE: "Water and Sewer Rates Increase Wednesday.........
to climb steadily through the year 2010, until the combined monthly bill hits about $180"
(Statesman-Journal 12-31-96)

Where is the "profit" for the community?


HEADLINE: "Oregon's Quality of Life Falters"
(Statesman-Journal 12-31-96)

Had enough? Vote "YES" on Measure 24-92.

(This information provided by Jerry Scott,
Citizens For Responsible Growth)
The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Marion County nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument. Marion County does not correct errors in spelling or grammar.


CITIZENS FOR RESPONSIBLE GROWTH is a group of your
neighbors who believe that we can no longer afford to pay the
price we have been paying for "growth". These "growth costs" are
called systems development charges, or "SDC's".

Currently Salem's SDC's are about the lowest in the state!


That means that we have been paying more to subsidize
"growth" In Salem than most other cities in the state!

Measure 24-92 helps to right this wrong. It puts the full force of the state
law into our city's charter. It can dramatically improve the economic future of
our city because this measure requires "growth" to pay more of its share of the
costs of streets, water, sewer, storm drainage, and parks.

Are you fed up with:

- watching our water and sewer rates skyrocket?
- our property taxes rising dramatically?
- watching our neighborhood streets deteriorate while new streets are being
built on the edge of town?
- being told that "we have no money for parks"?
- watching your tax dollars subsidize multi-million dollar
corporations?
- watching our streets and basements flood from runoff
from new parking lots, warehouse roofs, and streets?

Then vote "Yes". "Yes for smart growth".

With "smart growth" more of your hard earned money is returned to the
community where it belongs. And less of it goes into the pockets
of developers and land speculators.

As always, positive changes like this are dependent on
your vote.
It's very simple. You can vote YES on 24-92!
THANK YOU!


(This information provided by Richard Reid,
Citizens For Responsible Growth)


The printing of this argument does not constitute an endorsement by Marion County nor does the county warrant the accuracy or truth of any statements made in the argument. Marion County does not correct errors in spelling or grammar.

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