Lane County voters likely to face 2012 public safety tax levy

Reported by: Chris McKee

Email: chrismckee@kmtr.com

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Published: 3/15/2012 10:19 pm

Updated: 3/16/2012 5:42 am

LANE COUNTY, Ore. (KMTR) -- Public safety may go back on the ballot in Lane County, as commissioners have approved an executive task force to review taking another funding measure to voters.

The task force was approved in a Wednesday meeting county commission meeting on March 14th, 2012.

Over the next several weeks, the task force will meet to discuss Lane County's options for another public safety money measure. The outcome will likely be the creation of some kind of tax levy proposal to go in front of voters by the end of 2012.

The executive task force is still coming together, but will be made up of several county leaders and likely several municipal leaders. Lane County Sheriff Tom Turner, District Attorney Alex Gardner, Administrator Liane Richardson, Assessor Anette Spickard will all be a part of the task force.

Individuals from Lane County Health and Human Services are also likely to take part, along with representatives from Eugene and Springfield's city manager's offices.

Currently, Lane County is facing around 15 million dollars in general fund budget cuts for fiscal year 2013, which begins July 1st, 2012.

While there is a possibility of one more round of timber payments that could give Lane County an extra 4.5 million dollars for its general fund, major cuts are likely. (Read NewsSource 16's original story on Lane County budget cuts and a possible timber payment extension here: http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Renewed-timber-payment-proposal-may-bring/pTPyNi1X8EiXlnAUeyF-nQ.cspx.)

For the Sheriff's Office, the cuts could decimate services. (Read NewsSource 16's original story on Sheriff's Office cuts here: http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Sheriff-prepares-for-drastic-Lane-Co-budget-cuts/HAGQqcWsX0iEQ7Vhj-WsKg.cspx.)

With the current FY2013 budget, the Lane County Sheriff's Office may have to cut around 70 to 80 positions, scale back patrols to 16 hours a day and close an additional 130 jail beds, along with other cuts.

Commissioner Jay Bozievich spoke about the tax with NewsSource 16 on Thursday.

“This isn't about crying wolf. We are in a crisis,” says Bozievich.

Bozievich says the commission has not directed the executive task force to go after a specific tax levy rate, but that will be part of the task force's work.

According to Bozievich, other cuts include “9 of our 14 patrol deputies, much of criminal prosecution staff and parole and probation supervision of misdemeanor offenders.”

“And we are going to have such a low level of public safety that, we're going to be endangering the public and it's not about crying wolf,” says Bozievich.

“If anybody knows me and knows my history, I am the last person to start talking about a tax increase, it's that serious that that's where I am,” says Bozievich.

The task force will report back to the Lane County Board of Commissioners on May 2nd, 2012. By then, they should have more concrete information on how much they may ask voters to approve with a levy.

As it stands now, the levy would likely go to voters in November 2012, but again, nothing is set.

Lane County voters haven't approved a public safety funding measure since 1998.

Other Stories of Interest

Chris McKee, Decision 2012, Eugene, Jay Bozievich, lane county, Lane County Board of Commissioners, Public Safety, Tax Levy

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The views expressed here do not necessarily represent those of NewsSource 16

mongomaniac - 4/5/2012 6:58 PM

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JESUS, give it up lane county government.. no one will ever vote in more taxes,, home owners are already stretched to our income limits in taxes... how about dropping ALL property tax and replacing it with a sales tax?...then you can tax tourists as well as residents of oregon?

Cycloproshred - 3/23/2012 5:56 AM

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This is a rediculous idea. First of all, no one is gimme go for a tax increase. Secondly, the police in lane county just wan to make their salaries. I cannot count a single time where they have made my life any better. Two years ago I was asaulted in the Whitaker area and I had the cops come down to investigate. I brought them to the house where the guy lived and they did nothing. BUT they smelled alcohol, promptly wrote me a ticket and left. The next year I was picked up on DUI charges and the court date on my ticket was just a couple days before my actual court date. But when I went in all they told me was that my case wasn't filed and they would get ahold of me. 6 months later at the law firm I worked at I was told there was a warrant out for my arrest and I was quickly fired. I turned myself in and spent time in jail. This year I had unwittingly picked up a drunken shoplifter after he had stole some ice cream and called and offered me compensation for a ride home. Moments later I am pulled over and we were both taken to jail and my car was Impounded and sold at auction. I will NEVER EVER show any kind of support for lane county law enforcement. Because of them I'm living in a trailer and no one can ever fix it.

Workin 4 U - 3/17/2012 11:35 AM

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If you have to use your firearm,(I pray nobody ever has to) after you have trained and trained again and then you have practiced and practiced again and then there is no recourse then you won't need space in the hospital if your aim is true. Remember...you or your loved ones are in danger. You stop the threat and no more. Keep in mind once you have stopped the threat you, in my opinion should render first aid that should be part of your training. Become a first responder. I don't need the Constitution to say that I can defend myself everybody has that right.

xr600 - 3/17/2012 10:52 AM

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Seriously? That jail is operating at half capacity and criminals are being released before the officer has time to finish writing their report and you (yeah, I'm talking to you "Hallyscomet" and "fromthemomma") think that's ok? Eugene needs at least 1000 bed jail to hold criminals accountable for their actions and keep the public safe. You're probably also the type of people that have their head in the sand and think that Eugene has too many cops already. Eugene police don't patrol the approximately 60% of the county that is forestlands. Just vote in support of public safety, you two probably don't even pay taxes anyways. Workin 4 U: You have the right idea, but you're gonna need a place for the assailant to go to await trial after they go to the hospital.

Workin 4 U - 3/16/2012 9:07 PM

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Ok I have an idea, lets protect ourselves. The police are a reactionary anyways. For 85.00 at the Barron's den you can take a class and apply with the State of Oregon for 65.00 and get your conceal carry permit. Why carry a gun your might ask? Because a cop is too heavy. When seconds count the cops are only a few minutes away. And it is not there fault. Ever cop and sherriff I talked to has supported people with conceal carry. But I insist if you are going to defend yourself get training! Get Training! Practice Practiice and more practice. Be a responsible gun owner and be nice to those that don't agree with the right to defend yourself and point the bad guys their way and tell them they don't have any way to protect themselves and are easy pickings. Just kidding.

Hallyscomet - 3/16/2012 8:34 AM

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There is No way I will vote in favor of a tax, absolutely no way! Let me tell you why. As long as LTD is bent on spending $95 million on the West Eugene EmX extension, I will vote NO on any tax measure or levy. People sometimes say, well its a different budget or its been allocated. I don't buy that rational, public money is public money, period! We don't need the EmX. Is it more important that closing four schools, and gutting public safety?! I think not. Remember the city income tax, and it was defeated? It will be the same with this levy.

fromthemomma - 3/16/2012 1:58 AM

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I'm so tired of every level of government and utility company having their hand in my pocket. No matter how much they get they always want more. It doesn't matter if you get a raise anymore, money is sucked up in extra tax or gas to go to work. Enough is enough!

fromthemomma - 3/16/2012 1:58 AM

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sunoocoo - 3/15/2012 11:59 PM

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Well a sales tax, is another one of those beating a dead horse things..the people of Oregon already said NO! and will always say no..if you think a sales tax will eliminate any other tax..won't happen they will just add it to the tax pile..pretty much like Eugene and the gas tax..you notice that it never went away like they said it would..nope, instead they were all set to use that for the Occupy Eugene mess. I say the County has had it great for along time..so now they need to learn to work with nothing like the rest of us do. I still see county sheriff cars patrolling in Eugene, so I guess if they cut them..that wont be a issue anymore.

wantsjustice - 3/15/2012 11:59 PM

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RugerBaby, Interesting idea. I would be for getting rid of the insanely high property tax we pay and would then support a sales tax. The only thing is that I have only ever heard of them adding the sales tax and nobody said they were going to drop the property tax.

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