Siletz Looks to Form Public Safety Taxing District for Expanded Police Presence
The Siletz City Council wants to form a public service taxing district to provide police and fire services to area residents. Forming the district would increase property taxes by about $2.45 per $1,000 of assessed value. (Photo by Larry Coonrod)
By Larry Coonrod
SILETZ—The City of Siletz hopes to put a measure on the May 2016 ballot to form a public safety district to provide a dedicated police presence in and around the city.
A proposed ballot measure sought by the Siletz City Council would abolish the Siletz Fire District and form a public safety district for fire and police services in its place.
The Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians contracted with the Toledo Police Department for law enforcement services for seven years, paying up to $350,000 for police patrols. That contract was reduced and then eliminated in 2014 after the City of Siletz did not agree to share in the costs.
Lt. Dave Carey with the Lincoln County Sheriff’s Office said he has only one deputy on duty to cover east Lincoln County, which runs from Depoe Bay east through Toledo and out to Burnt Woods.
New Taxing District
The option favored by the city council, based on citizen surveys, would set a property tax rate of $3.79 per $1,000 of assessed value. A property owner with a home assessed at $150,000 would pay about $568 a year for the public safety district.
If formed, the district would eliminate the current Siletz Valley Fire District tax of $1.33 per $1,000. That equates to a net increase in property taxes of $2.45 per $1,000 or about $368 a year on a $150,000 property.
The Sheriff’s Office gave Siletz an estimate of $334,000 a year to provide 80 hours a week of patrols. The first year would cost an additional $106,000 for the purchase of vehicles and other police-related material.
The Toledo Police Department provided an estimate of $425,000 a year for 80 hours a week with a 4 percent annual increase. Toledo Police Chief Dave Enyeart emphasized Toledo’s figures were based on limited information and he would need to see an official request for a proposal detailing what is expected to provide more precise numbers.
“Of all the agencies involved, Toledo is the most familiar with the financial situation with the Tribe and the city,” he said in an email.
To form the district, Siletz needs the cooperation of the Siletz Valley Fire District and the Confederated Tribes of Siletz Indians.
County Questions District Structure
Under the proposal, local citizens would serve on a district advisory committee, but the Lincoln County Board of Commissioners would make the final decision on budgets and other issues. The city council presented the proposal to the board of commissioners during a recent joint meeting.
Lincoln County Legal Counsel Wayne Belmont questioned whether the county could legally take part in such an arrangement. Belmont said Monday that he expects to have an answer to that question this week.
While supportive of a beefed-up law enforcement presence in Siletz, county commissioners had their own doubts about overseeing a Siletz public safety taxing district.
“I’m don’t know if that is an appropriate role for us in making policy decisions. It’s more of a city level service,” Commissioner Bill Hall said.
Siletz has until Nov. 15 to complete the required legal steps and submit it to the county clerk’s office to make the May 2016 election.
Contact Editor Larry Coonrod by emailing editor@lincolncountydispatch.com
