Josephine County commissioners spent the week working through a possible new funding structure for the District Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Justice and the county jail while preparing to distribute approximately $445,000 in economic development grants and confronting questions over mining, water, federal lands and county government operations.
A proposed public safety service district received continued attention Tuesday as commissioners considered placing the District Attorney’s Office, Juvenile Justice and jail operations under a dedicated funding mechanism.
Property taxes surfaced as one possible source of revenue, but commissioners stopped well short of establishing a tax rate or approving a district. The board instead worked through what services could be included, how much revenue would be necessary and what residents could potentially pay if a levy eventually becomes part of the plan.
The discussion puts some of Josephine County’s most expensive and essential criminal justice responsibilities into the same financing conversation. Prosecutors, juvenile services and jail operations currently represent separate functions, each carrying staffing, operational and budget requirements.
Commissioners have not settled on how those responsibilities would be divided under a service district or how much of their costs the district would be expected to carry.
Money was also on the table for economic development.
Approximately $445,000 is available through Josephine County’s Economic Development Grant program for qualifying projects benefiting communities and economic activity within the county. Commissioners reviewed proposed bylaws governing the Economic Development Grant Committee as preparations continue for the current funding cycle.
Tuesday’s workshop moved from money into the rules governing the board itself, including when commissioners can add or remove business from a meeting agenda.
Oregon public meeting requirements became part of that conversation as the board addressed how agenda changes can be made while preserving required public notice. Commissioners also took up personnel requisitions, appointments to the Mining Advisory Committee and the county’s voter pamphlet argument associated with an upcoming levy.
County administration received attention as well, with communication, accountability and consistency across county government entering the conversation. Commissioners addressed expectations within the organization and the need for county departments and leadership to operate under clearly understood procedures.
Residents took over much of the conversation Wednesday.
Sanctuary laws, Illinois Valley water and mining concerns, federal management of roadless areas and the proposed Outstanding Resource Waters designation were brought before commissioners during the Weekly Business Session.
The natural resource concerns placed several long-running Southern Oregon issues on the county record, particularly questions involving mining, water and management of federally controlled lands.
A parking dispute near the YMCA also reached commissioners after an interaction involving a constituent and local law enforcement. The complaint centered on parking boundaries and responsibility for adjoining parking areas.
Economic development funding resurfaced during Wednesday’s session when the county announced the approximately $445,000 available through its grant program.
By the conclusion of the week’s meetings, commissioners had not approved the proposed public safety service district or committed the county to a property tax levy. The amount of revenue required, services to be included and potential cost to property owners remain unresolved as the county continues developing the proposal.
The $445,000 economic development grant process, meanwhile, is moving forward as Josephine County prepares to consider qualifying projects seeking a share of the available funding.