Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society

Home
Up
Outreach
Appendices
Press
Studies
Presentations
MALPSS
PSS
Grants Pass
Budgets
Courts
CI

 

BUDGETS: JOSEPHINE COUNTY, OREGON

Outline

 

I.       JOSEPHIINE COUNTY FINANCE DEPARTMENT

II.     ADOPTED BUDGETS

III.    ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS

IV.    CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO THE BUDGET

V.     BUDGET PROCESS

VI.    MANDATED & ELECTED PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES

VII.   NEWS ARTICLES & CITIZEN'S COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET

VIII.  OTHER

 

I. JOSEPHIINE COUNTY FINANCE DEPARTMENT

http://www.co.josephine.or.us/SectionIndex.asp?SectionID=152

 

Josephine County Oregon

http://www.co.josephine.or.us/index.asp

 

The Josephine County Finance Department is responsible for the financial management and planning of the County. County management and planning includes:

 

•   Establishing and maintaining effective controls over the County's fiscal activities.

•   Coordinating the annual budget and monitoring compliance after adoption.

•   Analyzing the financial condition of the County through interim and annual reports.

•   Recommending fiscal policies to the Board of County Commissioners.

 

In addition, the Finance Department provides accurate financial information to all county departments on a monthly or as needed basis and to the general public upon request. The department is also responsible for the Accounts Payable and Payroll functions.

 

Arthur O’Hare, Finance Director

Josephine County Finance Department

500 NW 6th Street

Grants Pass, OR 97526

541-474-5255

Email: aohare@co.josephine.or.us

 

The following are the official communications to the Oregon Department of Revenue and Arthur O’Hare, Finance Director, or copies to him on budget matters from the Exploratory Committee starting with a request to meet with him on January 20, 2016.  As of November 21, 2016 he has been too busy and/or not allowed to meet with the Committee by the Josephine County Board of County Commissioners.

 

•  January 20, 2016 Letter/Email to Arthur O’Hare, Finance Director, JO CO Finance Department, From Committee. Subject: Share Information About JO CO’s JS&PSS Problem/Issue. O'Hare responded, but never had time for a meeting.

•  May 26, 2016 Letter to Josephine County Board of County Commissioners from Exploratory Committee on Citizen’s Guides To The Budget. O'Hare copied. The BCC has not responded as of September 23, 2016.

•  June 4, 2016 Letter to Josephine County Budget Committee from Exploratory Committee on Citizen’s Guides To The Budget & Participating in FY 2017-18 Budget Process.  Author O'Hare, Finance Director,  has not responded as of September 23, 2016.

•  June 10, 2016 Letter to Oregon Department of Revenue from Exploratory Committee on Clarifying Oregon Local Budget Law. O'Hare copied.  Neither ODR or O'Hare has not responed as of September 23, 2016.

•  September 23, 2016 Letter to Arthur O'Hare, Josephine County Budget Officer, and Josephine County Budget Committee from Exploratory Committee on Requesting a Meeting to Clarify the JO CO Budget Process.

•  September 23, 2016 Email From Arthur O'Hare, Josephine County Budget Officer, to Exploratory Committee on Exploratory Committee's Request for Meeting to Clarify the JO CO Budget Process. O'Hare's response to the meeting request follows -- "Mike – you are requesting a meeting with me and with the Budget Committee in order to discuss various aspects of the budget process. That is really a decision of the Board of Commissioners for both me individually and for calling together the Budget Committee. I will need to check with them regarding your request and will get back to you when I have more information. Thanks. Arthur O’Hare, Finance Director, Josephine County, Oregon."

•  November 22, 2016 Letter/Email to Josephine County Board of County Commissioners from Exploratory Committee on JO CO Budget Process Sharing and Study of County Citizens’ Budget Preferences And Priorities.

•  November 26, 2016 Letter/Email to Oregon Department of Revenue from Exploratory Committee on Clarifying Oregon Local Budget Law.

•  November 28, 2016 Email from   Oregon Department of Revenue to Exploratory Committee on Clarifying Oregon Local Budget Law.

•  December 12, 2016 Letter/Email to Oregon Department of Revenue from Exploratory Committee on Clarifying Oregon Local Budget Law.

 

II. ADOPTED BUDGETS

Josephine County, Oregon

 

Budget 2016 - 2017

 

• Shaun Hall. April 20, 2016. Status quo' budget proposed for coming year. Front Page News. of The Grants Pass Daily Courier. Grants Pass, OR.

 

Proposed Budget 2016-17

Proposed Budget 2016-17 (Introduction, but no identified "Budget Message")

Proposed Budget 2016-17 (Budget Import Documents)

 

Budget 2015 - 2016

   Appendices

Budget 2015 - 2016 - Budget Message

   Josephine County Sheriff’s Office: Budget Proposal 2015-2016 Fiscal Year

Budget 2014 - 2015

Budget 2013 - 2014

Budget 2012 - 2013

Budget 2011 - 2012

Budget 2010 - 2011

Budget 2009 - 2010

Budget 2008 - 2009

Budget 2007 - 2008

Budget 2006 - 2007 - Budget Message

Budget 2005 - 2006 - Budget Message not available.

Budget 2005 - 2006 - Readers's Guide

Budget 2004 - 2005 - Budget Message

Budget 2004 - 2005 - Readers's Guide

 

Budgeting For Outcomes (BFO)

 

    Issue

 

•  Margaret Goodwin. May 29, 2016. LTTE, TGPDC. Budgeting Policy Affects Accountability

•  Shaun Hall. May 26, 2016. TGPDC. Budget Committee Member Bashes Budgeting Process

•  Margaret Goodwon. May 23, 2016. Guest Opinion Submitted to the TGPDC. Budgeting for Outcomes vs. Budgeting for Fiefdoms

  

   BFO Opinion Statements In Budget Message (*)

 

•  Budget 2016 - 2017.   Budget Message - Status Quo Budget (see above budget)

•  Budget 2015 - 2016.   Budget Message - BFO Claimed, but Budget Directives is Status Quo Budget (see above budget)

•  Budget 2014 - 2015.   Budget Message - BFO Claimed, but Budget Directives is Status Quo Budget (see above budget)

•  Budget 2013 - 2014.   Budget Message - BFO Claimed, but Budget Directives is Status Quo Budget (see above budget)

•  Budget 2012 - 2013.   * Budget Message (see above budget)

•  Budget 2011 - 2012.   * Budget Message (see above budget)

•  Budget 2010 - 2011.   * Budget Message, Including four top level budget goals.

•  Budget 2009 - 2010.   * Budget Message

•  Budget 2008 - 2009.   * Budget Message

•  Budget 2007 - 2008.   * Budget Message:   Incorporated levels of service citizens were willing to fund?

•  Budget 2006 - 2007.   * Budget Message:   First took steps toward implementing BFO.

•  Budget 2005 - 2006 - Budget Message not available.

•  Budget 2005 - 2006 - Readers's Guide

•  Budget 2004 - 2005 - Budget Message

•  Budget 2004 - 2005 - Readers's Guide

 

   BFO Analysis  (Seeking analysis documents)

 

•  Budget 2012 - 2013.   May 26, 2016 news article?

•  Budget 2007 - 2008.   Budget Message:  Incorporated levels of service citizens were willing to fund?

•  Budget 2006 - 2007.   Budget Message:  First took steps toward implementing BFO?

 

Public Safety Fund

Josephine County, Oregon

 

PSF Budget 2015 - 2016

PSF Budget 2014 - 2015

PSF Budget 2013 - 2014

PSF Budget 2012 - 2013

PSF Budget 2011 - 2012

PSF Budget 2010 - 2011

 

Special Revenue Funds

 

Special Revenue Funds Adopted Budget 2010 - 2011

Special Revenue Funds Adopted Budget 2015 - 2016

 

Supplemental Budgets

 

Supplemental Budgets:  R16-030 Resolution Adopting Supplemental Budget FY 15-16

Supplemental Budgets:  2015-16 Supplemental Budget Packet - April 2016

Supplemental Budgets:  2013-14

Supplemental Budgets:  2012-13

 

III.  ADOPTED RESOLUTIONS

 

Adopted Resolution 2015-2016

Adopted Resolution 2014-2015

Adopted Resolution 2013-2014

 

IV. CITIZEN'S GUIDE TO THE BUDGET

 

One important but relatively neglected aspect of fiscal transparency is the need for the local government to explain its budget proposals and the public finances in one simple, plain language document – often referred to as a "citizens’ guide to the budget." Because the annual budget is the key instrument by which a [local] government translates its policies into action, presenting the budget in a way that makes sense to the general public is central to government accountability.

 

•  May 26, 2016 Letter to Josephine County Board of County Commissioners from Exploratory Committee on Citizen’s Guides To The Budget.

•  June 4, 2016 Letter to Josephine County Budget Committee from Exploratory Committee on Citizen’s Guides To The Budget & Participating in FY 2017-18 Budget Process.

 

Why should governments publish a citizens’ guide to the budget?

 

• Publication of a citizens’ guide allows a government to explain in plain language the objectives of its budget and to supplement and complement other supporting material such as the budget speech, press releases, web pages, media appearances, etc. A guide provides a single place where the public can learn about the main features of the budget and gain access to more detailed reference sources. It also helps citizens to assess the impact on their own circumstances and on specific groups in society, including the effects on the burden of taxation, service provision and employment prospects.

 

•  Governments need to pro-actively help the general public make sense of the budget. Non-expert audiences can easily be intimidated by technical language and by the volume of budget information presented to legislatures. Broadening understanding of the [counties] public finances can help to frame more realistic citizen expectations and to build support for difficult policy choices. It can also help to offset the influence of narrow special interest groups and to avoid public debates being conducted in jargon by those "in the know."

 

"For in the end, a budget is more than simply numbers on a page. It is a measure of how well we are living up to our obligations to ourselves and one another."

 

Examples and references to citizen’s guides to budgets follow.  Except for Producing a Citizens’ Guide to the Budget: Why, What and How?, they are not in any order of preference, nor judgement of utility.  They are arranged in the categories of federal, state, and local.

 

Producing a Citizens’ Guide to the Budget: Why, What and How?

Petrie, Murray and Shields, Jon. 2010.

OECD Journal on Budgeting, Volume 2010/2.

https://www.oecd.org/gov/budgeting/48170438.pdf

 

Citizen’s Guide to the Fiscal Year 2014

Financial Report of the United States Government

http://www.nmvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/citizen-budget-guide-2014-update-web.pdf

 

A Citizen’s Guide to the Washington State Budget 2015

Senate Ways and Means Committee

http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/WM/Documents/2015CGTB.pdf

 

A Citizen’s Guide to the Washington State Budget 2016

Senate Ways and Means Committee

http://leg.wa.gov/Senate/Committees/WM/Documents/Publications/2016/2016%20CGTB_Final_website.pdf

 

Citizen’s Guide to the New Mexico State Budget: How the State Spends Money and Why it Matters, 20144

http://www.nmvoices.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/citizen-budget-guide-2014-update-web.pdf

 

Citizens’ Guide to Local Budgets

Office of the New York State Comptroller

Division of Local Government and School Accountability

https://www.osc.state.ny.us/localgov/pubs/releases/LocalBudgetGuide2010.pdf

 

A local government budget can be difficult to understand for the average citizen who may not have a background in accounting or a familiarity with budgeting. However, with some basic knowledge about what budgets contain, why they are important, and how they are presented, every citizen of every local community in New York State should be able to decipher the budget document.

 

Citizen’s Guide to the Adopted FY16 Budget

Sarasota County

https://www.scgov.net/Finance/Budgets/2016%20Citizens%20Guide%20to%20the%20Budget.pdf

 

City of Lewiston, Idaho

http://www.cityoflewiston.org/index.aspx?NID=357

 

A Guide to Understanding Denver Public Schools’ Budget

http://financialservices.dpsk12.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/DPS_CitizensGuide_final_web.pdf

 

A Citizen’s Guide to the City’s Budget Process

City of PalmBay, Florida

http://www.palmbayflorida.org/home/showdocument?id=8646

 

A Guide to Understanding the Budget: 2014 -15

Hamilton County Department of Education

http://www.pefchattanooga.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/HCDE_budget-guide_051515.pdf

 

A Citizens' Guide to the Clallam County Budget

http://www.clallam.net/taxes/documents/Guide2002.pdf

 

Reader’s Guide to the Budget

Leon County Government, Fiscal Year 2007 Budget

http://www.leoncountyfl.gov/omb/budget06-07/budget/01-Readers_Guide/00-Readers_Guide.pdf

 

Budget User's Guide

Charleston County

http://www.charlestoncounty.org/departments/budget/files/Budget%20Overview.pdf

 

V.  BUDGET PROCESS

 

Local Budget Law

 

Oregon Department of Revenue

https://www.oregon.gov/DOR/programs/property/Pages/local-budget.aspx

 

Finance, Taxation and Exemptions Unit

Oregon Department of Revenue (ODR)

P.O. Box 14380

Salem OR 97309-5075

Email: finance.taxation@oregon.gov

 

•  June 10, 2016 Letter to Oregon Department of Revenue from Exploratory Committee on Clarifying Oregon Local Budget Law. ODR has not responded as of September 23, 2016.

 

OCTOBER 2016. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE JOSEPHINE COUNTY BUDGET PROCESS

 

•  October 2016  Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process
Walker, Mike; Whalen, Jon, Members of Hugo Justice System & Public Safety Services Exploratory Committee, HNA&HS. October  2016. Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process. Hugo, OR.
•  October 2016  Chapter V:  Elements And Components Of Citizen Participation In Budgeting Process
Walker, Mike & Jon Whalen. October  2016. Chapter V: Elements And Components Of Citizen Participation In Budgeting Process, Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process. For Hugo Justice System & Public Safety Services Exploratory Committee, Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society. Hugo, OR.
•  October 2016 Appendices For Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process
Walker, Mike; Whalen, Jon, Members of Hugo Justice System & Public Safety Services Exploratory Committee, HNA&HS. October  2016. Appendices For Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process. Hugo, OR.

 

NOVEMBER 2016. CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN THE JOSEPHINE COUNTY BUDGET PROCESS

 

•  Walker, Mike; Whalen, Jon, Members of Hugo Justice System & Public Safety Services Exploratory Committee, HNA&HS. Draft November 2016. Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process. Hugo, OR.

 

There are nine chapters to the draft evolving Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process (i.e., I - IX, including acronyms/abbreviations, appendices (including a bibliography), and a glossary.

 

November 2016.  Citizen Participation In The Josephine County Budget Process

I.       Introduction/Purpose, including Acronyms/Abbreviations

II.     Oregon Local Budget Law Excerpts

III.    Excerpts from Josephine County Budgets:  FY 2006-07 to FY  2016-17

IV.    Budget Process Brainstorming Questions

V.     Analysis: Elements and Components of Citizen Participation in Budgeting Process

VI.    Josephine County Budget Process Issues

VII.   Citizen Involvement/Citizen Participation Program & Budget Process Recommendations

VIII. Budget Process Conclusions

IX.    Summary & Conclusions

         Appendices

         Glossary

 

•  June 2016  Oregon Revised Statutes: 294.305 to 294.565 (Oregon Local Budget Law) - Full Text

Walker, Mike; Whalen, Jon, Members of Hugo Justice System & Public Safety Services Exploratory Committee, HNA&HS. June 21, 2016. Oregon Revised Statutes: 294.305 to 294.565. Hugo, OR.

•  June 2016  Oregon Administrative Rules: 150-294.175 to 150-294.920 (Oregon Local Budget ) - Full Text

Walker, Mike; Whalen, Jon, Members of Hugo Justice System & Public Safety Services Exploratory Committee, HNA&HS. June 21, 2016. Oregon Administrative Rules: 150-294.175 to 150-294.920. Hugo, OR.

 

Local budget law training handouts (TH)

 

TH1.  Training PowerPoint.

TH2.  Sample budget (Office document - go to ODR web page).

TH3.  Statutory references.

TH4.  Budget committee and pre-meetings.

TH5.  Changes after adoption.

TH6.  Glossary.

TH7.  Property tax worksheet (Office document - go to ODR web page).

 

Other resources (OR)

 

OR1.  The Local Budgeting Manual, 150-504-420.

OR2 .  Local Budgeting in Oregon, 150-504-400

OR3.   Administrative rules, see chapters 294 and 310.

 

•   Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR): Division 294, Local Budget

(http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_100/oar_150/150_294.html).

•   Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR): Division 310, Levy of Property Tax; Tax Reduction Programs (http://arcweb.sos.state.or.us/pages/rules/oars_100/oar_150/150_310.html).

•   Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) 294, Chapter 294. County and Municipal Financial Administration (http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/chapter/294).

•   Oregon Revised Statues (ORS) 310, Chapter 310. Property Tax Rates and Amounts; Tax Limitations; Tax Reduction Programs (http://www.oregonlaws.org/ors/chapter/310).

 

Brainstorming

 

This section just started (see Chapter VII, Budget Committee Member Bashes Budgeting Process).  Suggestions from public encouraged.

 

•   Josephine County Finance Department Accounting Practices

•   Josephine County Budget Committee

•   Josephine County Finance Department Policy To Offices & Departments On Budget Submissions

•   Budgeting For Outcomes focuses on funding top priorities first:  FY 2012 - 2013(?).   In the four years since the method was used, the county's priorities have not changed so there is no need to reset them.

•   You fund the 'must-haves' first, then the 'should haves' and, if there's any money left over, you fund the 'nice to haves'.  In county budgeting, the 'must haves' are the mandated services.

•   The non-mandated funded level of services is just as important, perhaps more.

 

VI.   MANDATED & ELECTED PUBLIC SAFETY SERVICES

 

Josephine County Budget Committee

http://www.co.josephine.or.us/page.asp?navid=1730

 

Budget Committee. This committee is composed of three members of the public and the Board of Commissioners. The Budget Committee meets three or four times in a public setting each spring to review and approve proposed budget documents by the Budget Officer for the County. Budget Committee members should have an interest in County operations and an understanding of governmental budget processes.

 

Josephine County Management Team Recommends Mandated & Elective Services Be Identified:  August 19, 2016

 

JO CO Management Team. August 19, 2014. Exhibit A. Managers Recommendation on Strengthening County Services. September 3, 2014 Approved Minutes of August 19, 2014 JO CO BCC’s Weekly Business Session. Grants Pass, OR.http://www.hugoneighborhood.org/JSPSS_Studies.htm

 

Identify what county services are mandated by state law and what level of those services is optimal. Determine what it would cost to provide these mandated services at an appropriate and sustainable level. Identify what other county services may be desired by the citizens of the county. Determine what it would cost to provide these elective services at an appropriate and sustainable level

 

Josephine County Management Team Meeting With Exploratory Committee:  March 7, 2016

 

January 20, 2016 Invitation to JO CO Management Team Members

Example Invitation Letters

•   Authur O'Hare, Finance Director, JO CO Finance Department

•   Rob Brandes, Director, JO CO Public Works Department

Minutes of March 7, 2016 Meeting

 

MALPASS - Minimally Acceptable Level Of Pubic Safety Services

Justice System Exploratory Committee

Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society

http://www.hugoneighborhood.org/malpss.htm

 

Appendix 4B. Josephine County’s Minimally Adequate Level of Public Safety Services Standards

 

• Walker, Mike; Whalen, Jon, Members JS&PSS Exploratory Committee, Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society. Very Draft December 15, 2015. Appendix 4B. JO CO’s Minimally Adequate Level of Public Safety Services (MALPSS) Standards, Including Law Enforcement Staffing & Deployment. Supporting Justice System & Public Safety Services Study Design: 2015. Hugo, OR.

 

Standards For Public Safety Services

 

• Walker, Mike; Whalen, Jon, Members JS&PSS Exploratory Committee, Hugo Neighborhood Association & Historical Society. Very Draft February 1, 2015. Standards For Public Safety Services. Element of Appendix D2. Conditions, Indicators & Standards. Supporting Justice System & Public Safety Services Study Design: 2015. Hugo, OR.

 

What is the difference between emergency, adequate, normal, and optimal levels of PSS? How far will people go to get the best available outcomes. What will one sacrifice for the best? Many things in life are relative, and to achieve the best in one thing, usually means giving something else up (Chapter I, Purpose).

 

A normative level of PSS might be considered to be the normal or correct way of doing something (i.e., perhaps a compromise between adequate and optimal?). However, defining normal is difficult . . . normal today, or normal yesterday? Normal prior to 2012 or normal in 2015? Knowing what is correct is even more difficult. Correct according to whom? Whose professional experience opinion, and/or facts, determine the definition of "correct."

 

Professional opinion strategies on public safety standards are common, and they are usually not requirement standards. They usually serve as guides or goals. After extensive research, the Committee, except for certifications and training, does not yet understand the standards for the county’s public safety program.

 

What is a MALPSS Analysis Compared To A Professional Opinion? A professional opinion from an experienced practitioner is usually very good, but it is also normally without documented, and publically available comprehensive facts, inventories, or analysis. It is more about trusting the practitioner, rather than understanding the facts (Chapter I, Purpose).\

 

VII.  NEWS ARTICLES & CITIZEN'S COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET

 

This section  is preliminary and not comprehensive.  Recommendations from public of news articles, letters-to-the-editor, corrections, etc. encouraged.

 

•  Margaret Goodwin. May 29, 2016. LTTE, TGPDC. Budgeting Policy Affects Accountability

•  Shaun Hall. May 26, 2016. TGPDC. Budget Committee Member Bashes Budgeting Process

 

• But county officials are pushing back, saying many services already have been cut to the bone and that priorities often are mandated by the state.

• Now Goodwin is hoping to influence next year's budget process. "The public needs to know about this," she said. "If the public understands the issue, then if the public cares enough maybe some people will express an opinion."

• "The problem is a general disagreement with what funds are available," he continued. "People, I think, want to say the money is available and they don't believe only the most essential services are being funded. I think it's really that kind of idea that Margaret's expressing."

• Ironically, Goodwin is suggesting a return to a budget approach the county has used in the past, called "budgeting for outcomes," which focuses on funding top priorities first. Heck, Commissioner Simon Hare and Finance Director Arthur O'Hare said that, in the four years since the method was used, the county's priorities have not changed so there is no need to reset them.

• "We're not doing it (budgeting for outcomes) because we don't need to reinvent the wheel," he said. "We went through the process. Our priorities are the same."

• "The whole theory that we should reassess our priorities this year is Margaret's personal opinion," O'Hare said. "The Board (of Commissioners) already knows we are putting our money in the most important places."

• O'Hare added that he took as "pretty offensive" Goodwin's comments during deliberations that she believed the county was not following generally accepted accounting practices.

• "You fund the 'must-haves' first, then the 'should haves' and, if there's any money left over, you fund the 'nice to haves,'" she said. "In county budgeting, the 'must haves' are the mandated services, but the level at which you fund them is also important.

• "Simply asking the department heads how much it costs to fund a mandated service is the easiest way to decide how much it costs, but there are always savings that can be realized by requiring justification for each expense."

• In preparing the budget for the coming fiscal year, commissioners directed managers to budget for service levels similar to this year, and directed that those services only be those that are mandated or self-supporting.

• Goodwin, in her statement, said status quo budgeting insulated departments from cuts. "Status quo budgeting looks at each department as its own fiefdom, with its own inviolate budget, which is protected from being drawn upon to meet higher priority requirements in other areas of government," she said.

• In an interview with the Daily Courier, Goodwin also faulted the committee's schedule, saying not enough time was allowed to review the budget.

 

•  Shaun Hall. May 26, 2016. TGPDC, Budget Commissioners OK budget that ups projected spending by 5 percent

•  Margaret Goodwon. May 23, 2016. Guest Opinion Submitted to the TGPDC. Budgeting for Outcomes vs. Budgeting for Fiefdoms

•  Shaun Hall. April 20, 2016. TGPDC, ‘Status quo’ budget proposed for coming year

•  Shaun Hall. April 7, 2016. TGPDC. Road $$$ Won’t be going to Sheriff’s Office - Yet

•  Sandi Cassanelli. April 29, 2016. LTTE, TGPDC. County doesn't allow enough time to see budget.

•  Jim Moore. June 18, 2015. TGPDC, County approves budget; road funds won't go to sheriff

•  Jim Moore. June 16, 2015. TGPDC, Commissioners to consider total county budget

•  Jim Moore. June 6, 2015. TGPDC. County could transfer road money to the sheriff, but the issue is complicated

• Jim Moore. May 8, 2015. TGPDC. Justice officials outline fiscal cuts

• Jim Moore. March 27, 2015. TGPDC. Bill containing county payments sits in Senate

• Melissa McRobbie. March 15, 2015. TGPDC. Budget cuts hurting domestic violence victims

• Melissa McRobbie. January 7, 2015. TGPDC. County’s new finance director braces for challenges.

• Jim Moore. June 19, 2014. TGPDC. Commissioners discuss budget

• Jim Moore. June 15, 2014. TGPDC. Animal levy adds $500,000 to county budget

• Melissa McRobbie. May 23, 2014. TGPDC. Local funding request to boost rural patrols turned down

• Jim Moore. May 16, 2014. TGPDC. Public safety maintains budget

• Jim Moore. May 9, 2014. TGPDC. County’s proposed budget looks to maintain status quo

•  Stacy D. Stumbo. June 20, 2013. TGPDC. JoCo budget is $68 million for 2013-14

•  Stacy D. Stumbo. June 13, 2013. TGPDC. County budget likely to include more cuts

•  Stacy D. Stumbo. May 29, 2013. TGPDC. JoCo Budget Committee OKs 2013-14 spending plan

•  Stacy D. Stumbo. May 26, 2013. TGPDC. Glaring Fiscal Woes for Josephine County

•  Stacy D. Stumbo. May 15, 2013. TGPDC. Criminal Justice Officials Tell Budget Committee Services Are Threatened

•  Stacy D. Stumbo. May 8, 2013. TGPDC. Deeper Cuts in county service projected

•  Stacy D. Stumbo. July 7, 2012. TGPDC. Josephine County Sheriff Gil Gilbertson has had enough of friction with Grants Pass police officials.

 

In 2012 the City of Grants Pass Public Safety Chief, Joe Henner, sent a memorandum to City Manager Aaron Cubic. The memo related discussions about consolidating law enforcement services in the city and the county after the failure of a property tax levy to support the criminal justice system. "Consolidation of law enforcement services under the umbrella of the Josephine County Sheriff's Office is a bad idea," Henner wrote.

 

"For elected Sheriffs in Oregon, very few minimum standards exist,"  Henner wrote. "This is not meant to reflect negatively on any current or former sheriff but you really never know who will be providing leadership at the sheriff's office. That is because elected sheriffs can come and go with every election. At a recent meeting, the current Sheriff stated he 'answers to no one,' with respect to decision making about law enforcement in the county."

 

•  May 16, 2012. TGPDC. Budget-building, layoffs, jail releases ahead

•  November 5, 2008. TGPDC. Voters reject public safety measures

VIII  OTHER

• Gilbertson, Gil, Josephine County Sheriff Candidate. March 2006. JoCo Jail "Cap" Figures That Don’t Add Up (Chapter III, References on Public Safety Services Standards: Highlights). http://www.hugoneighborhood.org/JSPSS_Studies.htm

 

There is no magic formula because every jail is different. National Sheriff Association Executive Board.

 

In 2003, a recommendation to the JO CO Board of County Commissioners (BCC) proposed a limit on the number of inmates incarcerated in the county jail (i.e. ratio of 1 deputy to 5 inmates). The BCC adopted the recommendations made by the Sheriff, agreed upon by the District Attorney, and Legal Counsel in compliance with Oregon law. See Oregon Revised Statute 169.042 thru 046, and JO CO Court ORDER No. 2003-023.

 

Yamhill County (Oregon) is a classic example of what an efficient and professionally managed jail can do. Although this county is 55% smaller in area than Josephine, with a population of approximately 10,000 more citizens, and has a budget comparable to ours, Sheriff Crabtree has two fewer corrections deputies, yet continually fills his older, less efficient 250-bed jail to full capacity. Why can we not do better with our state-of-the-art facility?