Illinois Valley News, Cave Junction, Ore. Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Page 11
Board OKs sheriff’s office increase ...
(Continued from page 1)
vide as much public safety as
we can while we have the
money,” Gilbertson said.
Cassanelli said that she
planned to vote against the
proposal, and that she would
rather see the sheriff’s office
maintained for a full four
years rather than three.
“I don’t want to spend all
the money at this point,” she
said.
JCSO Business Manager
more public input. Commis-
sioner Dave Toler agreed to
postpone the vote until Jan. 9.
That morning, the hall-
way outside of the conference
room was packed with
around 60 people trying to
attend the meeting. Because
that space can accommodate
only some 20 people, Chair-
man Dwight Ellis said that he
would allow five citizens to
speak for the plan and five
against it.
Illinois Valley Safe House Alliance Director Chris Mallette
(at right) spoke in favor of the staffing increase. (Photo by
Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley News )
Sue Watkins said that the
plan needed timely approval,
as law enforcement agencies
tend to have a lengthy hiring
process due to rigorous physi-
cal and mental tests and
criminal background checks.
Some audience mem-
bers, including Dale Mat-
thews and Jack Swift, asked
that the board delay taking
action on the matter to gather
Among those speaking in
favor of the staffing increase
was Chris Mallette, executive
director of the Illinois Valley
Safe House Alliance.
Mallette said that in her
line of work — helping bat-
tered women and sexual as-
sault victims — deputy re-
sponse times are critical.
“Those women and those
children are at risk of contin-
ued violence,” Mallette said.
Former state representa-
tive Cheryl Walker provided
the board a list of 24 people
who couldn’t get into the
conference room to support
the plan. Walker said that
maintaining 12-hour deputy
patrols would be detrimental
to the county’s citizens.
“To have that kind of
service for four years is unac-
ceptable,” Walker said.
Deputy Keith Hubbard
also was among those in fa-
vor of the staffing plan.
“Staffing has always
been an issue in the 15 years
I’ve been here,” Hubbard
pointed out.
Merlin resident Richard
Siler was the only person to
speak on behalf of persons
against the plan. He said that
he is not opposed to
Gilbertson, but wanted to
extend the federal bailout
payments during four years.
Toler moved to approve
the plan, and Ellis seconded,
which opened the matter up
for board discussion.
Cassanelli reiterated her
previous position, as well as
her intent to vote against the
proposal. Toler disagreed.
“We must have a public
safety system in Josephine
County,” Toler said. He
added that 20-hour patrol
shifts would provide a
“minimal, reasonable amount
of coverage for our citizens.”
Toler said that he had
received 45 e-mails and sev-
eral phone calls from citizens
supportive of JCSO.
“I’ve not had this kind of
public input on any item,”
Toler said.
Ellis echoed that senti-
ment, stating that he received
33 e-mails in favor of the plan
and only two opposed.
“We are responsible for
the safety of the citizens of
Josephine County,” Ellis said.
“I want to give the sheriff the
tools he needs to do his job.”
Cougar wrestler Landy Wells drives opponent
Trevor Terry into the mat during a confer-
ence dual against North Valley High School
on Wednesday, Jan. 7. Wells took the 171-
pound match by decision. Illinois Valley won
the dual 61-18. On Jan. 9 & 10 the Cougars
participated in the Oregon Wrestling Classic
in Redmond, Ore. I.V. wrestlers Jesse Orndorf
(103), Sam Winter (145), and Lance Tau-
saga (215) went undefeated in five matches.
(Photo by Michelle Binker, Illinois Valley
News )
Lawmakers face budget shortfall ...
(Continued from page 1)
restructuring the existing pro-
vider tax. Hospitals would be
taxed at 4 percent; insurers
would be charged 1.5 percent.
Maurer said that the pro-
posed provider tax would be
based on the net revenue of
hospitals, a methodology he
strongly disagrees with.
“It doesn’t allow hospi-
tals to take out bad debt,”
Maurer said. “So whatever
you charge somebody is es-
sentially what you’re going to
have to pay taxes on, even if
you never got paid for provid-
ing those services.”
Maurer said that he also
anticipates the issue of paid
family leave to be brought up
this session. Previous legisla-
tion addressing the matter
failed to pass during the 2007
session, but Maurer said that
it’s on the list of proposals to
be considered.
“What it translates to is a
tax on employees,” Maurer
said. “Employers aren’t going
to contribute, but employees
are. This will nickel-and-dime
employees into poverty.”
Maurer said that he plans
to sponsor the Health Access
Oregon proposal, which asks
state employees to make a
contribution toward the cost
of their health insurance.
“Currently, we’re the
only state in the union that
does not require state em-
ployees to either pay for a
percentage of their health care
premium or to have a de-
ductible,” Maurer said.
Kulongoski has stated
that he wants the Legislature
to emphasize funding for in-
frastructure improvements as
a way to generate job creation
and stimulate the economy.
Funding for that would come
through increases in the
state’s gas tax and vehicle
registration fees.
Approximately $10 mil-
lion has been set aside in Ku-
longoski’s proposed budget
for continued study of a mile-
age tax to eventually replace
the gas tax as a way of fund-
ing road maintenance pro-
jects. That proposal has re-
ceived national media atten-
tion, as the mileage tax would
utilize Global Positioning
Satellites (GPS) in vehicles to
determine how many miles
have been traveled.
“That’s Big Brother at its
best,” Maurer said, adding
that such a system would be
“inherently unfair.”
“It penalizes rural Orego-
nians to the benefit of the
people that live in Portland,”
Maurer said.
Legislators are going to
have to make “some very
tough decisions” during the
next few months regarding
several aspects of public pol-
icy, Maurer said.
“The question is, in this
environment, how are we
going to pay for it all?”
Maurer said. “I don’t think
Oregonians are prepared to
raise taxes.”