Grants Pass residents vote on implementing sales tax

Grants Pass, Ore. — There’s still time for Grants Pass residents to submit their ballots for Tuesday’s special election. At last check about 40% of ballots have been returned.

Voters are deciding on measure 17-67, which aims to create a 2% city sales tax to eliminate the local option property tax, along with eliminating the jail utility fee. Some say the tax would drive businesses to relocate.

“It would create an island in the state of Oregon,” President and CEO of the Grants Pass Chamber of Commerce, Colene Martin says, “we would be the only city with a sales tax and that’s not good for any city, it’s not good for any county, and it’s not good for Grants Pass.”

The money generated from the tax would help the Grants Pass Department of Public Safety and criminal justice services.