Grants Pass, Ore — Looking for a solution to Josephine County’s safety situation, an advisory board invited state lawmakers to the table, but they may not have gotten the response they had hoped.
Two weeks ago the Local Public Safety Coordinating Council of Josephine County sent a letter to lawmakers asking that a “public safety fiscal emergency” be declared by the governor under a 2012 Oregon law also known as ORS. Chapter 753.
State Representatives Carl Wilson, Duane Stark and State Senator Baertschiger were on hand Wednesday to hear from the committee but seemed to be in agreement that the county had to find another way to fund law enforcement.
“We don’t think, and I say we, the Senator and Representative that were with me, after reading the fruits of the bill many times over are just absolutely convinced that this bill is not the answer,” said State Representative Carl Wilson.
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners can still send a request to Governor Kate Brown’s office as long as two of the three commissioners agree.
If enacted, declaring a “Public Safety Fiscal Emergency” would provide matching funds for Josephine County to fund law enforcement, but questions were raised at the meeting concerning where the initial funds would come from, how much power the act gives the State over the County and how the people of Josephine County would be represented, if at all.
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