From a levy to help the fire district protecting the Wimer community keep pace with inflation to a pair of Ashland proposals allowing city officials to appoint certain positions, the May 21 Jackson County election includes a handful of nonpartisan ballot measures.

Measure 15-229: Evans Valley Fire District 6 levy

The proposed five-year $1.35-per-thousand tax levy adds 99 cents over the prior levies that residents in the fire district — which covers the area outside Rogue River in the rural community of Wimer — have paid since 2004.

Two 10-year levies have passed in the past two decades: an operations levy in 2004 and a follow-up capital levy in 2014. Both kept the rate firmly at 36 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value.

Fire Chief Tom Davidson said in an interview that the rate needs to increase to keep buildings maintained and service levels high.

“Since then (2004), the levy’s never been increased before,” Davidson said.

He acknowledged that the 99-cent increase may seem steep, but the revenue at 36 cents no longer spends the way it did 20 years ago.

“With inflation that cost has risen,” Davidson said. He added that the expiring levy is only enough to fund basic operations.

He said the new levy is necessary for a host of purposes, including building maintenance and capital improvements. The levy would go into effect fiscal year 2025-26 and is expected to raise a combined $2,178,388 over its five-year lifespan.

The levy also funds two paid firefighting positions after a state grant expires. Davidson said the two paid positions — hired in July 2023 — have brought a roughly 20% improvement to response times.

In 2022, response times averaged roughly 11 minutes from call to first unit on scene. From July 1 through Dec. 31, response times “dropped to just a little under nine minutes,” Davidson said.

In addition, the levy covers the replacement of three vehicles over the next five years, as well as its student firefighter program, which acts as a “full-ride scholarship” for local high school and community college students interested in the profession, he said. Students who can commit to 10 shifts a month for two years can leave the program with their associate degree and on-the-job training.

Davidson said that if the levy were to fail, the citizens of Wimer would see a “significant reduction” in service.

“It’s very significant that we receive this money and levy,” Davidson said. “Without this we aren’t going to be able to fulfill our mission of quick and timely services.”

Measure 15-227 and 15-228: Ashland levies

Ashland residents will see two ballot measures, 15-227 and 15-228, which both relate to the city’s ability to appoint certain positions.

Measure 15-227 seeks to change Ashland’s city charter to make the city recorder an appointed position rather than an elected one.

According to the voters’ pamphlet, the city recorder position does not make policy and simply works as a board secretary and record keeper. The proposed ballot measure would put city staff in charge of the city recorder’s oversight, hiring and firing. The original policy, as adopted in 1908, sets no minimum qualifications except that the candidate be an Ashland registered voter. 

Measure 15-228 would allow the Ashland police chief to designate another officer to act as the sergeant-at-arms at City Council meetings. Presently, Ashland’s city charter requires the chief of police to attend all City Council meetings and “does not allow for any consideration to schedule, illness or training opportunities that may conflict with the city council meetings.”

Measure 17-118: Three Rivers School District levy

A section of rural Jackson County voters within the Three Rivers School District will have a say in a $39-million bond focused on school safety, security and building maintenance across its 14 schools. The levy will be combined with a $6-million matching grant from the state that only goes into effect if the bond is approved, according to the Josephine County voters’ pamphlet.

The school bond covers the reroofing of 18 buildings within the school system, along with safety and security measures, such as added fencing, buzz-in entry systems, key card entry systems and security doors and hardware.

Ballots for the May 21 Oregon primary will be mailed to Southern Oregon voters May 3.