Measure on the ballot in the 2024 Oregon General Election in Columbia County.
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Get StartedIn 2014, 2017, and 2020, voters approved a jail operating levy, expiring in 2024. The Jail's primary funding sources are the County's General Fund, Federal bed rentals, and the Jail Operating Tax Levy. Since 2020, the County's General Fund support for the Jail has increased. However, operating expenses have increased by $1,500,000 due to medical costs. To cover these rising costs, the Jail has been using reserve funds since 2020 which are no longer available. A 50% increase in General Fund support is not sustainable. Operation of the Jail at current levels is now dependent upon Federal bed rentals which are not guaranteed. Without a new levy rate of $0.79 per $1,000 of assessed value, the Jail will not be able to operate at current capacity leading to staff reductions, fewer jail beds, and a shift to a "book and release" model. A complete Jail closure is possible. The proposed tax levy will fund continued operations through FY2027-2028, including constitutionally mandated healthcare for adults-in-custody, food services, clothing, and Jail management. The estimated money raised will be $5,057,189 in FY2024-2025; $5,270,715 in FY2025-2026; $5,493,256 in FY2026-2027 and $5,725,194 in FY2027-2028, for a total estimated tax levy of $21,546,354.
Shall Columbia County levy a tax of $0.79/$1000.00 of assessed value for four years beginning in FY2025 for Jail operations? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
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