BBR Police seek local option levy in November

The Black Butte Ranch Police Department is asking property owners in the resort community west of Sisters to approve a local option levy this November to fund full-time patrol services.

The tax, sought through the Black Butte Ranch Service District, would be assessed at 40 cents per $1,000 of assessed valuation. On a $500,000 home, the assessment is calculated to run $16.67 per month or $200 per year.

The measure will require a 50 percent voter turnout.

In asking for the levy, the Ranch notes that currently anticipated revenue increases in the 3 to 3.5 percent range are no longer adequate to cover police department expenses. The BBR Service District’s current tax levy is capped at $1.0499 per $1,000 assessed value. This levy has only increased $.0005 since 1999, according to the ballot argument.

The ballot argument also notes that “we recently negotiated a five-year contract with our officers’ union... The recent contract negotiations resulted in a contract that brought our officers in line with compensation packages existing in comparable communities but resulted in a substantial increase over previous budgets.”

According to BBR officials, “If our revenues are not increased to meet operating expenses, a reduction in personnel will be necessary, resulting in fewer hours for patrol. We currently provide 24-7 patrols, but if the levy does not pass, there will be periods with no officer on duty.”