Fern Ridge Chamber of Commerce

Quarterly LuncheonDecember 9. 2015

Fern Ridge Community Policing District

What is proposed…

Proponents and Lane County are working towards the formation of a new law enforcement special district with the following mix of services:

10 full time deputies24/7 coverage with 2

deputies on dutySchool resource deputyCommunity resource

deputyFull time sergeant

2 contracted jail beds Full time Deputy

District AttorneyCahoots Mental HealthFern Ridge Youth

Corps

Proposed District boundary

the unincorporated communities of Alvadore, Crow, Elmira, Noti and Walton and the incorporated city of Veneta.

Boundary would include the following communities…

Only a county board of commission (BOC) can place a law enforcement special district on the ballot.

Process is outlined in Oregon Revised Statue (ORS) Chapter 198 and ORS Chapter 451

The Lane County BOC will be the governing body over the new District.

Proponents are requesting the measure be referred to the May 17, 2016 ballot.

If the measure passes it would establish a new permanent tax rate (est. at $1.80 per thousand) for all properties within the proposed boundary.

How is a public safety district formed…

Formation of a special district requires a vote of registered voters within the proposed boundary.

The District and the new permanent tax rate can only be dissolved by a vote of registered voters within the proposed boundary or if the BOC established a renewal or sunset date.

If the measure is expected to make the May election the BOC will need to issue a series board order initiating the formation.

City Council’s co-adoption of the board order is required to have Veneta included in the new District.

The City’s consent would be through an adopted resolution and would need to be provided to the BOC by late December 2015.

What we know…

BOC issues board order to initiate formation of District (no later than mid December)

City Council needs to co-adopt formation board order (no later than late December)

BOC needs to conduct the first of two public hearings (no later than mid January, but no earlier than 30 days from initial board order)

BOC needs to conduct second public hearing to refer the ballot measure (no later than mid-February but no earlier than 20 days after 1st PH)

Last opportunity for BOC to refer measure to ballot (late February as measure needs to be received 80 day prior to election)

Formation Timeline…If the measure is to be referred to the May ballot the following milestones need to be met:

May 17, 2016 election will determine if district is formed July 1, 2016 District Operation begins with

5 deputies 1 fulltime supervising sergeant 2 jail beds Services of Deputy District Attorney Cahoots Mental Health services 24/7 coverage begins

September 1, 2016 School Resource Officer

November 1, 2016 Sixth deputy added to district (subsequent deputies added every

2 months) Rural patrols begin

July 1, 2017 District is fully staffed Community Resource Deputy

Implementation timeline…

First year budget - $2.34 millionFifth year budget grows to – $2.8 millionA budget looking out 15 years has been developed

and presented to the Board of Commissioners

Property tax statement in fall of 2016 would reflect new permanent rate.House valued at $200,000 could see an increase of

$360.

Based on the estimated $1.80 per thousand new permanent rate.

Measure 47/50 established a property tax cap of $10 per thousand.

With the two voter approved operating levies most properties within Veneta exceed the $10 per thousand limit as established by Measure 50.

By exceeding the M50 limit all taxing districts are in tax compression.

Establishment of a new permanent rate at $1.80 would push the combined governmental tax rate well above the $10 per thousand cap for properties within the City limits.

To maintain a rate below the M50 limit, Veneta would need to roll back the amount of its tax levied.

Veneta’s current tax rate is $5.64 per thousand of assessed valuation, which generates approximately $1.32 million in tax revenue.

What we know…

City Council and appointed Budget Committee could choose to not levy full tax amount during its annual budget process.

Council has expressed a desire to roll back the tax levied by a minimum $1.80, or the amount of the new District’s rate.

Council and Budget Committee has some leeway to roll back the tax amount slightly more to lift some of the compression currently being felt by all the local taxing districts.

Any decision by current City Council to roll back the tax amount would not be binding to future Councils or proposed budgets.

Ideal scenario would have the City lowering the amount taxes levied for Veneta residents, while allowing a lifting of some compression constraints.

Reducing the financial impact…

Receiving comments from Town Hall meetingReceiving comments during Chamber of

Commerce luncheonConduct public comment period during Dec. 14th

City Council meetingPassage of resolution co-adopting BOC board

orderContinue to provide guidance to BOC on

language for ballot measure board orders

Council process…The City needs to complete its process no later than late December if we are to be included in the formation of the District.

Can be provided to the City Council during the December 14th comment period

Comments can be sent to Council via posted e-mail addresses

Written comments can be providedCan be provided to the Lane County BOC at

any of the scheduled public hearingsIf measure is placed on May ballot, voting is

the best way to express your view on the subject

Comments …

Proposed services?Timeline and formation process?Implementation schedule?Proposed budget?Impact on other taxing districts?Roll back of Veneta tax rate?Opportunity to voice support or

opposition to District formation?

Q & A…