Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... Rogue Valley doctor runs for governor on climate change platform ... Emergency services, Oct. 16 ... Since You Asked: Park resurfacing delayed during winter ... MAY 19 VOTE Grants Pass again supported public safety levy But rural voters voted heavily against the proposal Comment By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 11, 2015 at 11:06 AM By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 11, 2015 at 11:06 AM » Social News Certified results from the May 19 special election again show a distinct difference of opinion between Grants Pass and county voters over taxes and public safety. With 100 percent of ballots counted, final results show voters rejected a proposed public safety levy 54 to 46 percent. Almost the exact opposite was true in the city of Grants Pass, however, where voters favored the levy 55 to 45 percent. Josephine County Clerk Art Harvey said 25,903 ballots were counted. Turnout was just over 50 percent. Measure 17-66 would have imposed a five-year increase of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value on top of the county's current property tax rate of 58 cents. The property tax rate for county government is the lowest in the state, which averages about $2.50 per county. The defeat of the proposed levy was the fourth in a row in the county since 2012, the year dwindling federal subsidies for lost timber revenue forced budget cuts that decimated the Sheriff's Office. Voters in Curry and Klamath counties also rejected public safety levies. A breakdown of the results show voters in Cave Junction rejected the levy by the same margin as voters in the county — 54 to 46 percent. Nine of 11 precincts in the city voted in favor of the levy, while 31 of 34 precincts in the county were opposed. County voters outnumber city voters, however. In some areas of the county, opposition was heavy, with no votes outweighing yes votes by more than 2-1. In fact, three in four voters in Selma said no to the levy. Voters in Williams and Wolf Creek also opposed the levy by similar margins. Two precincts in the city of Grants Pass sided with county voters. Those precincts, known as Riverside South and Robertson, are on the south side of town centering on Fruitdale Drive and Cloverlawn. Meanwhile, three county precincts on the western edge of the city limits sided with city folk. Those precincts are known as River Road, Redwood and Dimmick. Dan DeYoung, president of the Grants Pass City Council, noted that a majority of city voters supported the three previous levies as well. That continuing support explains why the City Council is now considering a sales tax of up to 3 percent to help pay for beds in the county jail, he said. The city is currently charging a fee on utilities to pay for up to 30 beds, but city officials don't like it as a long-term solution. "We're looking for something permanent, and a sales tax is the fairest way to spread the burden of taxation out," he said. By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier MailTribune.com By Chris Bristol Grants Pass Daily Courier Posted Jun. 11, 2015 at 11:06 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2015 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501