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Gold Hill voters defeat public safety levy By Buffy Pollock May 17, 2016 12:00 AM A A Residents stuck to their guns when asked whether they wanted to pay additional taxes to help fund public safety for their city over the next three years. Early results show a $250,000 levy failing, 144 to 65, or 68.9 percent to 31.1 percent. Measure 15-140 would have taxed Gold Hill residents $1.32 per $1,000 of assessed property value to raise $250,000 over the next three years. Last November, city officials sought a larger, $500,000 levy, but it, too, was soundly defeated. City officials today said they would abide by residents' wishes, though the city already had signed a contract to provide a single, full-time officer for at least the next three years. Said Mayor Jan Fish, "If the levy fails, the people are saying we don't need police. So be it."