Black Butte Ranch police levy passes

The Black Butte Ranch police levy passed handily 187 votes to 43 in the Tuesday, November 8, election. The funds produced will pay for continued full-time police services at BBR.

“It was real good news to us,” said BBR Police Chief Gil Zaccaro. “We kinda thought it would pass, but we didn’t think it would be so overwhelming.”

The measure required a 50 percent voter turnout, which was easily surpassed.

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

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

Zaccaro said the landslide vote was an indication of the value of the full-time police force to the residents and property owners of the community.

“Obviously they like what we’re doing and want to keep us here,” he said.

The police department’s budget outstripped its revenue after the Ranch negotiated a five-year contract with its officers. The contract brings salaries into line with comparable departments. Funds from the new levy covered the increased costs.

According to Zaccaro, anticipated increased costs from moving into proposed new facilities were also taken into account. The chief said there would be no need to return to voters for more funds in the immediate future.

“The package that we put together will carry us through the next five years for sure,” he said.