Monday night, the Eugene City Council voted 6-2 to approve a new payroll tax.
The tax on employees and employers will pay for the expansion of public safety in Eugene. It’s expected to bring in $23.6 million to the city’s community safety fund. Over half of that would go to the police department.
Eugene Police Chief Chris Skinner told KLCC last week the funding for public safety has not kept up with the community's needs.
SKINNER: "I do believe we're at kind of a tipping point between whether we can turn some of this livability types of issues around and create a more livable community."
Those who make minimum wage will not have to pay.