Options explored to aid county funding
Commissioners conduct public forum for Illinois Valley to outline ideas
Commissioner Dave Toler addresses crowd. (Photos by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)
Josephine County commissioners and other elected officials held an informational meeting in Cave Junction Thursday night, Oct. 11 to discuss possible loss of federal safety net funds.
Commissioners Dwight Ellis, Jim Raffenburg and Dave Toler; District Attorney Steve Campbell, Sheriff Gil Gilbertson, John Harrleson, county treasurer, and some 60 citizens attended the meeting at Lorna Byrne Middle School.
Toler outlined the situation facing the county, and presented some of the options available.
“We’re going all over the county to talk about how to address the issue of losing safety net funding,” Toler said.
The 30-minute presentation is titled, “Insuring Our Future: Options to Replace Federal Safety Net O&C Funding.” It touched on the historical prominence of O&C timber revenues and subsequent safety net monies for county funding.
As result, Josephine County has the lowest permanent property tax rate in Oregon. Approximately $6 per month is median assessed value.
Cave Junction resident Lynn Atteberry addresses Commissioner Toler. (Photos by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News)
Without replacement of Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act funds, 64 percent of the county’s general fund will be lost, Toler said.
Many ideas which had been brought to the commissioners were outlined. Some, such as an income tax, are not legally viable options for the county by state statute or county charter. Some legally viable options, such as a gasoline or bed taxes, were limited by how funds could be used.
Among the options seen as most useful are two versions of a property tax levy, formation of two criminal justice tax districts, or a 2 percent consumption tax.
The larger, three-year tax levy, approximately $2.49 per $1,000 assessed value, would fully replace the O&C funds. The other option, a two-year, $1.25 per $1,000 assessed value plan, would require spending all the county’s reserves to make up the budget.
A 2 percent consumption tax on all retail sales would raise an estimated $17.6 million. Trading one tax for another, Toler said, would result in property taxes decreasing under this option, and county services would be fully funded.
“At this point we have no position on any of these,” Toler said. “We are presenting these options to you. We’re hoping you will help us decide which direction we should go, should we need to go in that direction.”
Other than one brief exchange, there were no temper flares; the crowd was attentive and polite.
Through cost-cutting and instituting user fees, the county has managed to save some $9.2 million, Toler indicated. Fewer county employees, reduced employee costs and transfer of some programs have contributed to the savings.
Toler stated that the planning department, fairgrounds and parks are now self-sufficient, independent of the general fund, due to user fees.
Severe reductions in the criminal justice system are expected if county funding is not reinstated.
“We know the safety net funding is going away,” Toler said. “The question is, ‘When’?”
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