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County should examine all alternatives for new shelter

On Feb. 29, the Jackson County Administrator updated Commissioners on long-overdue capital projects. He said: “Obviously, most of those have not been forward-facing, not out in the public,” such as replacing the inadequate animal shelter.

On March 26, the County Administrator unveiled an elaborate proposal for a perpetual service district, new tax, and $14,850,000 in debt. There was no public involvement. Critical policy decisions which should rest with the Commissioners were dictated by Administration — to move the shelter 12 miles, abandon cost-saving opportunities to contract with a nonprofit and put a Volunteer Coordinator on the county payroll at a cost over $91,000. Only one of several alternatives was put on paper.

A week later, the county is pushing this complicated proposal to city councils for buy-in. City councils can hold off. Don’t get pushed into a bad decision.

There are other options to provide a new animal shelter without raising taxes. The County Administrator has repeatedly stated we can afford the construction. The county can proceed to build a safer, more efficient shelter while a community-oriented process sorts out the best long-term options for funding and operations.

We deserve transparency. We need to examine all viable options with public input and forward-facing planning, involving and respecting all stakeholders.

As a shelter volunteer, I am extremely concerned about our homeless animals. Rubber-stamping bureaucratic proposals disserves the public’s interest. It is time for a collaborative and cost-effective approach, not defaulting to higher taxes, a perpetual service district, and more unresponsive big government.

Denise Krause / Unincorporated Jackson County

Editor’s note: Denise Krause is a candidate in the Democratic primary for the Jackson County Board of Commissioners.

Cities should take close look at county’s shelter proposal

The Jackson County Administrator and Commissioners want voters to accept a perpetual service district, new tax and $14,850,000 in debt for an animal shelter that will find homes for only half the number of dogs adopted in 2023 (453 dogs were adopted from the current shelter in 2023).

The adoption fee is $180, $250 for puppies which are few and far between, and down to zero for “long timers.” Taking $180 as the likely middle case, the $41,624 in dog adoption fees presented to support the new tax is — only 231 adoptions!

Why is the county proposing that voters adopt bigger government and higher taxes to drop the number of dogs adopted in half? There are many more inexplicable numbers in the county’s proposal.

City councils, take a pause and a close look before you sign on. There are better options to provide a modern, efficient shelter for our community and its animals.

We need a forward-facing process with public input to get there, not a railroad job by county bureaucrats.

Laura B. Ahearn / Applegate Valley