Sheriff, libraries in voters' hands

Sheriff and library services in Deschutes County rest in the hands of the voters. Ballots for the September 15 mail-in election were received by most voters on Friday, August 29.

Ballots must be returned by September 15 ­ either by mail or at a ballot drop box - in Sisters, at city hall.

Voters will decide whether to fund a three-year operating levy for the sheriff's department and a one-year levy to reopen libraries that closed August 29.

The sheriff's levy would assess a split rate of 78 cents per $1,000 of assessed property valuation for residents of urban areas and $1.12 per $1,000 for rural residents.

The library levy would assess 55 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation.

The election requires at least a 50 percent turnout to be valid.

Last May, voters overwhelmingly approved a permanent tax base for the county library system, but the result was invalidated by a low voter turnout.

The libraries will seek a permanent tax base again in the November election.

Author Bio

Jim Cornelius, Editor in Chief

Jim Cornelius is editor in chief of The Nugget and author of “Warriors of the Wildlands: True Tales of the Frontier Partisans.” A history buff, he explores frontier history across three centuries and several continents on his podcast, The Frontier Partisans. For more information visit www.frontierpartisans.com.

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