Medford, Ore. — The Jackson County Clerk, Chris Walker, said the GMO issue is part of the reason for a surge in registered voters. She said more people registered for this primary than the last presidential election.
But there are two other important measures voters will consider in just a couple of weeks.
Measure 15-121 would provide money for Jackson County’s agricultural extension service.
“The extension is really hobbling along on a bare bones budget,” the campaign’s coordinator Jack Duggan said.
4-H and Master Gardeners are both programs under the extension service. The extension services also support farmers, forest owners, and the pear and grape industry with research on how to keep crops healthy.
“Anybody who eats basically should pass this measure,” Duggan said.
The other measure, 15-122, could provide up to $9 million for library services, and create a new library district with their own board of directors. Without it, supporters say doors could close again.
“There’s just been a lot of drama. Every year we don’t know if we’re going to get funded, we don’t know how much funding we’re going to get,” President of Friends of Medford Library, Maureen Swift, said. “If we have a library district that funding will be secure.”
Both measures are on the ballot because of a decrease in county funding.
One Jackson County voter said the measures sound good, but there’s a downside.
“I don’t think at this point with how the economy is it would be a good idea to bring on new taxes onto the taxpayers,” Tobin Mikels said.
Taxpayers could eventually spend a maximum of $7.71 a year to fund the extension service.
The library measure could eventually cost taxpayers $92.53 a year.
Another measure on the ballot would fund the Rogue River Fire Department.
Registered voters will start seeing those ballots in their mailboxes Saturday.
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