Letter: Public Safety Levy has support of the Bay Area Chamber

As the Executive Director of the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce representing almost 500 businesses in Coos Bay, North Bend, and Charleston. We urge you to vote Yes on Ballot Measure 6-213 Public Safety Levy. It’s no secret that Coos County has a problem with crime, and our accountability system is seriously underfunded.

The Coos County Jail is only operating 1/3 of the jail beds available. Additionally, the DA’s Office is understaffed by two deputy district attorney positions leading to a backlog of over 1400 cases still awaiting trial. Nobody wants to pay more taxes, we get that, but we NEED the services our county provides, our PUBLIC SAFETY depends on it.

The ramifications of this measure not passing will be extremely detrimental to our area. Coos County is paying one of the lowest amount of taxes per $1000 assessed. The state’s average is at $3.51 per $1,000. Coos County needs the funds to provide the jail and the DA’s office with the tools they need to be able to provide us a safer place to live and work. It isn’t just property crimes going unpunished right now, there are violent criminals and murderers still awaiting trial.

100% of the Levy dollars will be dedicated to the jail and District Attorney’s office to prosecute those criminals and put them in jail for their crimes. The County is proposing a 5-year operating local option levy of $.98 per $1000 of assessed value beginning in fiscal year 2024-2025. We have to have an accountability system in place if we are going to deter the crimes we all see spilling into our Business and residential areas.

Join the Bay Area Chamber of Commerce in supporting the Public Safety Levy and vote yes on measure 6-213. Support can be sent directly: Public Safety Political Action Committee, Support Public Safety ID 23616, 1291 N 9th Street, Coos Bay, Or 97420

Rosey Thomas

Coos Bay