6
area news
december
2009
Sheriff Dickerson Searches For Stable Funding
By Scott Laird
trols. “My approach, since I took office, is really to
say, ‘How can we do this in a manner that is fair to the

Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dickerson is taxpayer?’” said Dickerson.
“We recognize that times are tough, that taxes
looking for a solution to the problem of funding short-
ages his office continues to face, year after year. Dick- need to be just, and that citizens need to experience a
erson was faced with a shrinking budget this past year, benefit for the taxes they pay,” says Dickerson, in ex-
which included the loss of a major revenue source when plaining his tax fairness approach.
When the US Marshals reduced their use of
the U.S. Marshals Office decided not to rent beds at the
Columbia County Jail. He has made securing stable Columbia County this past fiscal year, Dickerson was
funding one of his top priorities this year and recently forced to cut patrol positions. Dickerson was hand-
cuffed, so to speak, in how
went looking for a successful model to
to meet the needs of the
copy.
county because the Sheriff

“Over the last few years, our
is charged with numerous
presence in the county has been shrink-
responsibilities that he is re-
ing,” said Dickerson during a recent
quired to carry out. Those
interview with Vernonia’s Voice. “The
responsibilities include civil
cost of business is going up, the cost
process serving, which they
of employing individuals is going up.
handle all around the county
And the revenue available for the Sher-
as well as in the incorpo-
iff’s office is going down.”
rated city boundaries, and

Dickerson recently traveled to
operation of the jail, which
Deschutes County, who hosted Colum-
takes the largest bite from
bia and Clackamas County officials for
his budget. The enforce-
a seminar on how Deschutes has been
ment arm, which includes
able to secure stable funding for their
the Columbia River and ev-
Sheriff’s office. “They are very proud
erywhere else in the county,
over there in Deschutes County about
Columbia County Sheriff Jeff Dick-
was left to suffer.
the fact that they have achieved a mod-

“We’re doing the best
erate amount of tax fairness when it erson is looking for a fair and stable
we can with the resources
comes to delivering the services of the source of funding for his department.
we have, but many times
Sheriff’s Office to the people who are
actually paying the taxes for them. And I would be there is no one to send when someone calls the the
very proud if we could model that here in some way,” Sheriff’s office for help,” Dickerson explains. “We
want to give citizens the opportunity to enhance the
said Dickerson.

The problem of funding the Sheriff ‘s Office public safety net where they live, in a way that is fair to
will be considered by a task force the County Commis- every taxpayer.”
According to Dickerson, the Oregon Constitu-
sioners are convening. Dickerson hopes to propose a
model to that task force for Columbia County similar to tion specifically establishes the sheriff as the primary
conservator of the peace in the county. “The office of
what Deschutes has used successfully.

Dickerson is faced with a tough situation. Sheriff is constitutionally established,” says Dicker-
Twice in recent years, Columbia County residents son. “State and Municipal law enforcement have been
have rejected tax levies to fund additional Sheriff pa- legislatively established. Those police departments
are part of a municipal
desire to enhance what a
Sheriff might be able to do.
Police Departments have a
narrow focus and jurisdic-
tion-- usually about three
to four square miles. The
Sheriff, he’s going to be
spread thin because he’s
covering the whole coun-
Monday thru Friday
ty.”

“People who live in
Leaving From
Depart AM Depart PM
the cities in our county live
there for a reason,” says
Vernonia City Hall
6:15AM
4:30PM
Dickerson. “And one of
Stub Stewart St. Park
6:35AM
4:50PM
those reasons is that the
city
provides Police Ser-
Staley’s Junction
6:42AM
4:57PM
vices. I don’t think it’s fair
Tri-Met’s Willow
to penalize those citizens
Creek Station
7:15AM
5:30PM
and ask them to pay for
Staley’s Junction
7:48AM
6:00PM
patrols for the unincorpo-
Stub Stewart St. Park
7:55AM
6:10PM
rated areas.”

So Dickerson is
Vernonia City Hall
8:10AM
6:25PM
searching for a way to pro-
(Arrival)
vide what he is calling, “...
stable, permanent and fair
General Public
$4.80
Senior/Disabled/Student/Children
$3.80
All Fares - One Way
Nehalem Valley Fixed Route
Monthly Passes
General Public
Senior/Disabled/Student/Children
Seniors 60 & Over
Mobile Communication Device
Laws to Change in Oregon
$106.80
$ 91.80
Children Under 10
Also Available: West County Flex Route Service
Tues & Thurs Only Between Vernonia and St. Helens
See website for schedule and fares.
Columbia County Rider “ Public Transportation for All”
503-429-4304
funding,” to run his agency. “We’re going to have to
raise revenues somehow if we are going to be able to
fulfill our mission to conserve the peace across this
county,” he says.

His trip to Deschutes provided some ideas
about how he might make that work. Dickerson ex-
plained that what Deschutes County has done is take
a three-pronged approach to funding their sheriff’s of-
fice.

First is the baseline support they were already
receiving from the county from the general fund bud-
get. In Deschutes, they have a guarantee that the cur-
rent funding level will stay stable. In Columbia Coun-
ty, Dickerson currently receives $3.8 million from the
general fund, down from $4.2 million last year. His
total budget is higher because they earn revenues from
operation of the jail, but they took a big hit when they
lost the revenue from bed rentals which, according to
Dickerson, was basically paying for his patrol officers.
Dickerson wants to make sure he has a certain level of
funds he can count on from the county general fund
each year. “I believe our Board of Commissioners will
make that commitment to our voters.”

Next, Deschutes has divided their county into
two tax districts, which makes up the second and third
prongs of the approach.

One county district strictly funds all the func-
tions of the Sheriff’s office in the county that everyone
benefits from-- things like the jail and administrative
functions. Dickerson would propose adding some
county detectives to assist in investigations and who
would also help with drug enforcement, as well as an
administrative outpost location in the north county area
that would be available for things like fingerprinting
services and concealed handgun licenses.

In Deschutes, they have a second tax district
that only covers the unincorporated areas of the county.
Dickerson would use this in Columbia County to fund
enhanced patrols in the unincorporated areas. “What I
like about this model is it promotes tax fairness,” said
Dickerson. Dickerson says he envisions an additional
three resident deputies in the Nehalem Valley areas, six
deputies stationed in north county and seven deputies
stationed in south county for a total of sixteen depu-
ties-- an additional ten on top of the currently funded
six positions. “This would still not give us twenty-four
seven coverage,” says Dickerson. “But it would keep
the criminals guessing, and it would make these depu-
ties part of an area.”

“This has been working tremendously well for
Deschutes County,” said Dickerson. “They had the
foresight to get something like this in place when the
economy was good, and now they are in good shape,
even in a bad economy. They are the envy of many
sheriffs in Oregon.”

“I’m not a big tax guy,” says Dickerson. “I’m
more into government efficiency. I’m a fiscal conser-
vative. I don’t like to tax people to death. I just know
that this is our only chance. We’ve depended on the US
Marshals in the past, but we can’t keep doing that.”

Dickerson believes he has a plan that would be
fair for all Columbia County taxpayers and meet the
needs of the community. Or at least he has a place for
the Commissioner’s task force to start. But first it will
have to be approved by Columbia County voters.

“I’m honored to be the Sheriff of this county,”
said Dickerson. “I want the citizens of this county to
decide what they want for their Sheriff’s office.”
www.ColumbiaCountyRider.com
Do you talk on your cell
The Oregon legislature
phone or send text messages passed House Bill 2377, which
while driving? If you do, things makes it a Class D traffic
are about to change.
violation for using any “mobile
Beginning on January communication device” while
1, 2010, it will be a traffic driving, unless the device is used
violation in Oregon to use a cell hands free. This is a primary
phone, blackberry, or iPod while offense, which means that police
driving. This citation will carry a may stop drivers when this is the
only violation observed.
$142 fine.