Frequently Asked Questions
Learn more about why we need stable law enforcement services in our county.
Why do we need a Law Enforcement Service District?
Since the decrease in funding from timber receipts from federal O&C lands in Josephine County due to the reduction of the timber industry, county public services including the Sheriff’s Office and law enforcement funding has declined.
During the 1990s, two statewide ballot measures locked assessed property values to a controlled growth rate based on 1995 and 1996 property values. Because of the inflow of timber receipts at the time, Josephine’s rate was and still remains the lowest in the state at $0.58 per $1,000 assessed value.
In May 2017, voters passed a five-year levy of $0.93 per $1,000 assessed value to fund juvenile detention and adult jail services, with no dedicated funding to other areas of law enforcement, including county patrols, 911 dispatch, and evidence to support investigations. In May 2021, voters renewed the levy, while funding for patrol services continued to decline. With some one-time pandemic funding, a temporary funding stream was used to maintain services of 20 fulltime deputies. This funding will terminate in June 2025.
This measure is proposed to replace the loss of federal funds and create a foundation for public safety and crime prevention, and is a first step in stabilizing law enforcement in rural Josephine County.
Why does the Sheriff’s Office need more money?
In Oregon, the general fund rate cannot be raised and in Josephine County, the rate of $.58 per $1,000 assessed value which was set in the 1990s is not enough. The situation is dire – without stable funding, law enforcement services will decrease significantly beginning in June 2025 should no other funding steam become available. Since the passage of a levy to support juvenile detention and adult jail services In May 2017, the Sheriff’s Office has relied on general fund dollars and one-time ARPA monies for county patrol services, along with dispatch and evidence.
Measure 17-115 will stabilize county patrol services and support a safe community which is the foundation of businesses, schools, and economic development.
What will happen if Measure 17-115 doesn’t pass?
If Measure 17-115 doesn’t pass on the November 7, 2023 Election, the Sheriff will be forced to reduce county patrols, dispatch, and evidence even further than current levels of operations. This means the Sheriff would only be able to respond to life threatening calls for service, which may not include domestic disputes, theft, and dangerous drivers.
There will be no patrols.
How much will this cost me?
Passage of this measure would establish a fixed rate limit of $0.99 per $1,000 of assessed value beginning 2024-2025. The rate would cost a maximum of $99 per year per $100,000 of assessed property value.
Assessed values are lower than market values, and can be determined by visiting the County Assessor’s website.
How was the $.99-rate determined?
The rate of $.99 per $1,000 assessed value was determined as the lowest rate needed to stabilize county patrol services. In the first year the proposed rate will raise approximately $5,643,350 for the district based on calculations by the County Assessor’s Office. This funding will pay for 20 fulltime county patrol officers, 6.25 dispatch operators, and 1.5 evidence technicians, allowing for potential growth from O&C, SRS, and general fund support to reach 24/7 patrol service.
What will happen if citizens vote YES on Measure 17-115?
If Measure 17-115 passes in the November 7, 2023 Election, county law enforcement operations will be stabilized. Reliable funding for county patrols, dispatch, and evidence services will provide the basic foundation for a safer county and community. The newly formed Law Enforcement Service District will provide the ability to increase services with the use of other funds in the future, including general fund support with the approval of the Citizen Advisory Board and the Budget Committee.
Who will be in charge of the service district?
Measure 17-115 will form a Citizen Advisory Board to provide oversight of the service district budget, set priorities, and advise on general operations. By law, a Board of County Commissioners is the governing body of a service district. To ensure that citizen voices are heard, Measure 17-115 forms a five-member Citizen Advisory Board representing geographic locations in Sunny Valley/Wolf Creek, Williams, City of Cave Junction, Murphy, and Greater Grants Pass. The Sheriff’s Office will present the annual budget to the Advisory Board before it is presented to the Budget Committee. The Advisory Board will also oversee the annual audit of operations and funding for the Law Enforcement Service District.