The following measure appeared on the June 27, 1989 Special Election Ballot

 

THREE-YEAR SERIAL LEVY FOR EMERGENCY COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

 

Question: Shall Portland levy $2,5000,000 each year for three years outside the tax base for police and fire communication system beginning 1989-90?

 

PURPOSE

 

This measure would allow a tax levy of $2,500,000 each year for three years. This levy is for the City's public safety communication system and related equipment. Some of the money would be used to buy computer-aided dispatch systems, and to put computer terminals in fire trucks and police cars, and to improve 911 service. Some of the money would be used to buy a management information system.

 

The total amount of money that would be raised by the levy is $7,500,000. The levy would expire in three years.

 

It is estimated that the tax impact of this measure will be 17 cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation The estimated tax cost for this measure is an ESTIMATE ONLY base don the best information from the County Assessor at the time of estimate.

 

The levy is outside the limitation provided in the Oregon Constitution.

 

 

The text of the measure as submitted by the City Council to the voters of the City of Portland for their adoption or rejection at the municipal election to be held on the 27th day of June, 1989, is as follows:

 

RESOLUTION NO. 34663 ADOPTED MAY 3, 1989

 

AN ACT

 

A Measure Directing a Three-Year-Serial Tax Levy within the City of Portland of $7,500,000 ($2,500,000 per year) outside constitutional limitations for the City's public safety emergency communication system, beginning with the fiscal year 1989-90.

 

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY OF PORTLAND, OREGON

 

Section 1. Pursuant to Section 7-109 of the Portland City Charter, the Council shall levy for each of three successive years commencing with the fiscal year 1989-90, at the time taxes are levied for the payment of expenses for the City, a special tax of $2,500,000 ($7,500,000 total) on all property in the City of Portland not exempt from taxation. The proceeds from such levy shall be placed in a special fund to be designated the Public Safety Capital Fund. The money in said fund shall be expended only for the following purposes in connection with the integration and improvement of the City's emergency communication system: the purchase of Computer-Aided Dispatch systems enable the City to merge the dispatch functions of the Bureau of Emergency Communications and the Bureau of Fire, Rescue and Digital Terminal (MDT) Systems for fire and police vehicles, a management information system, related emergency communication equipment, an enhanced 911 system, and other related expenses, of the City's emergency communication system. Such serial tax levy hereby is specifically authorized, and it shall not be counted as within the limitation provided by Section 11 of Article XI of the Constitution of the State of Oregon, and said serial tax hereby specifically authorized shall be in addition to all other taxes that may be levied according to law.