There could be a new way to help fund public safety, or even help local school districts.
The best part
It won’t cost taxpayers a dime.
It’ll come down to the state lottery.
What organizers of a new petition are trying to do, is to take back control of some of the money that goes into the lotto, and put it back into the local communities where those tickets were purchased.
It’s no secret that Josephine County has been struggling, especially when it comes to providing public safety.
But now the group ‘Securing our Safety’ is trying to get signatures for a ballot measure that would generate money for public safety.
“We are trying to put on a ballot initiative that would allocate 50% of Oregon lottery dollars back to the counties they were generated in,” said chief petitioner Cliff Thomason.
Currently state lawmakers decide where those lottery proceeds will go.
“The Oregon lottery is a billion dollar a year business. It gives our county to ability to decide where the money goes instead of Salem,” explained Thomason.
Cheri Adkins has been gathering signatures since last week.
“I believe the county needs money, most of the people are supportive, there’s a few who object, but most people are on board,” said Adkins.
Josephine County Resident Jarrett Baker voted for public safety in the last election and signed the newest petition which will require at least 116,000 signatures to make it on the ballot.
“I thought it was something not only the community has been thinking about butI think we need it,” said Baker
It won’t cost him anymore than just a lotto ticket to help support the communities needs.
“Money spent local should stay local this is what it’s all about,” said Thomason.
If counties don’t need law enforcement money, they could decide to use it for parks, education or other public uses.
If enough signatures are obtained, the earliest it could go on the ballot is November of 2014.
Petitioners say they will be at the Grants Pass post office everyday until they have enough signatures.
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