NOTICE OF MEASURE ELECTION AND RECEIPT OF BALLOT TITLE

NOTICE OF MEASURE ELECTION AND RECEIPT OF BALLOT TITLE Filed in the Office of County Clerk 2/22/2023 NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a ballot title for a measure referred by Columbia County has been filed with the Columbia County Clerk on February 22, 2023. The measure election will be conducted by mail and will be held on Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The ballot title caption is: Four-year Local Option Levy Dedicated to Law Enforcement Caption Four-year Local Option Levy Dedicated to Law Enforcement Question Shall Columbia County levy $0.29/$1000 assessed value for four years beginning in 2023 for enhanced law enforcement? This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent. Summary The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office has never had a voter-approved operating fund completely dedicated to law enforcement. Instead, the Sheriff’s budget is subject to the budget demands and pressures of the County’s general fund, which must balance funding for all County services. The Sheriff’s Office is under increasing calls for service that have increased with the decriminalization of drugs such as heroin, methamphetamine and cocaine. The increase in property crimes and violent crimes severely impact the citizens of Columbia County. This measure would create an Enhanced Law Enforcement Operating Fund to be used exclusively for increasing law enforcement presence throughout Columbia County and increasing Sheriff’s Office presence within the cities. This fund would add 7 additional deputies and all necessary equipment, which would provide 24/7 law enforcement coverage in Columbia County and would reduce response times. The approximate rate for this operating fund is $0.29 per $1000 of assessed value. The estimated money raised will be $1,868,330 in 2023, $1,953,443 in 2024, $2,042,434 in 2025, and $2,135,478 in 2026 for an estimated total levy of $7,999,685. NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that any elector may file a petition for review of this ballot title in the Columbia County Circuit Court no later than 5:00 p.m. March 3rd, 2023 (which is the 7th business day after receipt) ORS 250.195. This notice is published pursuant to ORS 250.175(5) by Debbie Klug, Columbia County Clerk. Published March 3, 2023. CCS275597

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