The choices available to Josephine County have recently improved significantly. A few short days ago we were faced with the imminent demise of the Sheriff’s Office. Now with Federal Bailout money over the next four years, we have been given time and a way to use that time managing a transition to a more stable and secure future.

We can’t rely on continued Federal support. It took a massive national crisis to provide us this last extension. The Feds are sending us a very clear message that this is the end by reducing the level of support significantly each of the four years. We must not waste another chance to seize control of our own lives and plan for our future.

We can still create funding alternatives to the Districts, but at a minimum, the Districts provide a floor for Public Safety while we manage that transition. Funding instability causes the loss of trained personnel and resulting waste. Over the last dozen years, Josephine County has trained 98 replacement officers at an approximate cost of ten million dollars due to this continuing instability
The Federal Bailout can allow us to accelerate the rebuilding of our Sheriff’s Office at no cost to the taxpayers for two years. Utilizing Federal Bailout funds to cover anticipated deficit years in the Sheriff Districts 20-year plan would allow us to ramp up service levels now and defer collecting any taxes.

This is a real opportunity to rebuild now and pay later.

The Sheriff’s District concept is the first viable, truly equitable, most efficient proposal ever presented to Josephine County Voters. Every one of the incumbents and candidates for Commissioner has committed to use bailout funds to reduce District tax collections.

The graph below demonstrates how District tax collections can phase in while being offset by Bailout funds in the early years. The anticipated cost in the later years could similarly be offset by any funding alternatives we can develop and implement. Several were proposed by the Long Term Funding Task Force and others. No tax collections until 2010. Reduced tax collections until 2013. Time to develop alternative funding sources to allow further reductions.

This can truly be a win/win/win scenario, but only if we keep our eye on the long term and create those conditions by approving the Sheriff’s Districts. Support the Deputies who support you. Vote YES on 17-25 and 17-26.

The following is a chart of how the cost is spread out to cover the transition:
Assumptions:
• The example is based on the average property “assessed” at $130,000.00
• The Federal phase-out payments over the next four years worked into the Sheriff Tax Districts.
• Federal money paid to match phase out – as agreed by Commissioners.

Graph provided by GrantsPassNow