Crooked River Ranch voters to decide on tax for 2 deputies

Crooked River Ranch residents could be paying more in property taxes to boost public safety, if they approve Measure 16-88 on the Nov. 7 ballot, which would create a law enforcement district on the Jefferson County side of the ranch.

More than 3,300 ballots were sent out on Wednesday to voters living in CRR to see if they want to hire two new Jefferson County sheriff’s deputies who would patrol the rural subdivision that straddles the Jefferson-Deschutes County line 80 hours per week.

The price tag, if the measure is approved, is 95 cents per $1,000 of taxable property value.

Jefferson County Clerk Kathy Marston said this special election for the ranch will be costing taxpayers $4,500.

Marston said county Commissioners voted to have officials create the measure that would create the law enforcement district

She said no petition signatures were needed because Oregon Revised Statues 198.835 gives the county commission the authority to initiate the formation of a special district.

Jefferson County Sheriff Jim Adkins told NewsChannel 21 Wednesday that most of the crime happens in the north part of the county.

Adkins said in September, there were 1,597 calls countywide, and 145 of those calls came from CRR.

He said if voters pass the measure, the two deputies would be working different 12-hour shifts at Crooked River Ranch which would help relieve other deputies to service the north county.

CRR resident John Stevens, an opponent of Measure 16-88, said he feels safe where he lives and believes the new tax would only hurt the people living in CRR who are on a fixed income.

“This is a community, I’m finding out, they know how to take care of themselves, too, and we don’t need a policeman for everything that’s going on out here,” Stevens said.

Stevens and his wife have been making “No on 16-88” campaign signs and posting them around the area.

“I don’t see the crime” supporters of the tax are concerned about, Stevens said.

Adkins said there has been crime in CRR and cited a February 2016 double-homicide, when Mitchell Julio Morris, 20, killed his roommate, 18-year-old Bailee Ray Southwick, and his girlfriend, 21-year-old Mackenzie Lyman.

Adkins said he’s happy with the service his office is providing to CRR now, but there are a number of people who want more.

“These people who want more, want more traffic control, want to see the deputy on a routine basis,” he said. “Other people say, ‘Look, we’re happy with the service that we get already, crime is not outrageous, we’re happy with the 30-minute response, crime rate in CRR is low, we’re happy with what we got.'”.

The sheriff said he’s in favor of the measure, but he knows other employees in his office who live in Crooked River Ranch who are opposed to it.

He said he also understands people are tired of taxes.

“It depends on what the individual wants,” Adkins said. “Do you want enhanced patrols, do you want quicker response, then vote for it. If you can’t afford it and you don’t want it, than don’t.”

Voters will have until Nov. 7 to mail or drop off their ballots.