Springfield residents will vote on two tax measures in November. One is a gas tax for street repairs. The other is a local tax on pot sales.
The Springfield City Council voted Monday in favor of putting both measures on the November 8th ballot. The 3 percent pot tax would be for recreational marijuana sold at city dispensaries. A 3 cent fuel tax would raise $1 million for road repairs.
Annette Spickard with Springfield Public Works says there is public support for fixing the city’s streets.
“We also had a survey earlier this year of 400 of our residents and that survey showed that folks understood that we had a repair issue and that it was important to them that the city address it.”
Spickard says the survey also showed a preference for a fuel tax over a property tax for street repairs. Revenue from the proposed 3 % pot tax would go to Springfield’s general fund.
Eugene City Councilors are also considering a similar local pot tax. They’ll decide at next week’s meeting.