Grants Pass Public Safety

Frequently Asked Questions & Answers

What would the proposed levy cost?

The proposed levy would be a 2-year levy at the rate of $1.79 per $1,000 of assessed valueNOT market or appraised value but "assessed value," typically much lower than market or appraised value and capped at a maximum increase of 2% per year..

What would the proposed levy do?

The current levy of $1.49 per $1,000 of assessed value EXPIRES completely on June 30, 2009! That means on July 1, 2009, the effective rate would be $0!!

What WILL happen to the current Police and Fire Levy?

The proposed levy would fund critical services and maintain the high quality service we receive currently. The proposed levy would only last 2-years and then it would expire.

Would the proposed levy be an increase over the current Police and Fire Levy and, if so, how much?

The proposed levy would be 30 cents more per thousand than the previous levy which was adopted in 2004.

How much more would the average homeowner pay per year?

$39.15 per year. In Grants Pass, the average single family home has a real market value of $227,000 and a taxable value of only $130,500. Based on the taxable value, the increase would be $39.15 per year.

That equals about $3.26 per month (equal to one cup of premium coffee), or 11 cents per day (is there anything comparable?)

Why would the proposed rate be higher than the current rate?

The current rate was set in 2004 and it did not change for four years. During those years, the costs to provide police and fire services increased each year. The levy amount was set so that it would generate extra tax revenue in the first two years. This extra tax revenue was put in a special account to offset costs in the last two years. The extra revenue that was set aside was used to continue providing services.

In summary, the Police and Fire services provided last year cost more than the 2004 tax levy. If the same levy amount were used in this election, Police and Fire services would have to be reduced, for instance traffic enforcement.

What services would the proposed Police and Fire Levy provide?

The proposed Police and Fire Levy would maintain current service levels including Police and Fire/Rescue emergency responses, Street Lighting for Neighborhoods, Dispatch Services, limited Traffic Enforcement, Gang Prevention, Major Crimes Investigations- Neighborhood Patrols, Crime/Fire Prevention, School Programs, Drug Enforcement, K-9 Program, Community Policing, Citizen Public Safety Academy, Vehicle Crash and Emergency Medical Response, and National and State Accreditation for the Law Enforcement and Dispatch Functions.

How would this levy relate to the new Fire / Police Stations?

The two new stations were funded through a bond measure that was approved by voters in 2006. The bond measure is limited to the two stations, the three fire trucks and the training tower. The revenues from this bond measure cannot be used to pay for police and fire operations.

Is my campaign contribution tax deductible?

Even better! Up to $50 per person results in an equal TAX CREDIT! That means if you and your spouse each contribute $50, you will receive a tax credit of $100 on your 2009 taxes.

If you have questions about the operations of City Police and Fire, please contact the Public Safety Department at 474-6370 or the Public Safety section of the city website.