As of 10 a.m. Wednesday, May 22, the Columbia County jail levy and the St. Helens police levy are being rejected by voters. The vote, however, remains evenly split in the Columbia 911 emergency dispatch election.
St. Helens police levy falls behind
Votes Wednesday morning show the police levy being turned down by 42.9% to 57.1%. Oregon law allows for ballots postmarked on election day to be counted if received within the following week.
St. Helens police are seeking a 5-year local option levy that would raise $800,000 a year, which amounts to 69 cents per $1,000 in assessed property value. The levy, if approved, would fund up to four officers, depending upon whether they are entry level or a more seasoned lateral.
"We honor the democratic process, and the St. Helens community has voted against funding additional police services through a levy," City Administrator John Walsh said in a statement after preliminary results were released. "... We remain committed to providing excellent policing to the St. Helens community while working within the scope of our available budget. The City Council and City staff will need to explore other funding options to ensure our police department has sufficient personnel, training, and equipment to continue delivering the highest possible standard of police service."
County jail levy increase trails
The county jail levy is also failing with 64% no votes and 36% yes votes in the initial voter returns as of Wednesday morning.
The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is asking voters to raise existing property taxes by 29 cents per $1,000 assessed property value — to 87 cents per $1,000, to help with increasing jail operating costs for the next five years.
The county says costs to operate the jail have increased since the jail levy was last renewed.
Columbia 911 levy split
The Columbia 911 levy, as of 10 a.m. Wednesday, is still too close to call with 48.8% yes votes to 51.2% no votes.
The emergency dispatch agency is asking for a renewal of its levy, at 29 cents per $1,000 of assessed value. The levy, if approved, would be good for five years.
Columbia 911 is the county’s sole emergency dispatch agency.
Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District
The Vernonia Rural Fire Protection District’s renewal of the current five-year local option tax is passing with 53.2% in favor to 46.8% against, as of 10 a.m. Wednesday.
The $1.24 per $1,000 assessed property value local option tax renewal would fund fire and emergency services.
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