Priorities of Washington County

Washington County voters will have a lot to think about when a public safety levy is up for renewal this November. The levy, which will expire next year, has the potential to dramatically change the county.

“A ‘yes’ vote will probably not change their lives, but a ‘no’ vote will certainly create a dramatic change in our community,” said La Donna Burgess, executive director of the Domestic Violence Resource Center in Hillsboro.

If the levy fails to get renewed, it would mean layoffs and budget cuts throughout the entire county. Measure 34-179 is up for renewal Nov. 2.

The public safety levy represents approximately 16 percent of Washington County’s total criminal justice system funding. It has generated $72.9 million since it first took effect four years ago in November 2006.

According to The Oregonian, programs that run through the Domestic Violence Resource Center make about 10,000 contacts with abuse victims.

With renewal of the levy, survivors would be cut to 200 adults and children, housed at Monika’s House Shelter in Washington County. And at least five staff positions from the county’s Juvenile Department would be cut.

The numbers do not lie; not renewing this levy would be a devastating change to Washington County.

The expiring levy cost $6.71 per month in 2006 and was approved by 59 percent of the voters; however, the replacing levy would cost about $7.53 per month for the average-priced Washington County home. It is not up by much and overall it would be about $90.34 for the entire year. The reason that the price has risen is because the values of houses are higher than they were four years ago.

Can a price really be put on public safety?

No, public safety is an issue that is important, and it cannot be ignored. The country is already in peril over the recession. Oregon has one of the higher unemployment rates, at 10.6 percent in July 2010, according to United States Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Public safety is also an issue that is relatable to everybody who wants to live in a safe place—everybody has the right to live in a safe place.

“The most vulnerable in our community will pay the highest price if we do not approve a renewal of this vital funding for public safety and emergency shelter,” Burgess said.

While everyone is in need of public safety funding, it is the people who need it the most who will start slipping through the cracks if there is not enough funding to continue programs or if programs such as Monika’s House are severly cut back.

We are all experiencing a recession right now—in times of economic hardships it is important to put priorities in order. Public safety should be a priority for the people of Washington County.

It is important to have resources like the Domestic Violence Prevention Center for people to utilize in the county. The levy has been in place for the past four years and last time it passed with 59 percent of the voters. It needs to be renewed, because the expiration of the levy would be detrimental to members of Washington County who count on such services, or who will need them in the future.

This is an issue that cannot be ignored. It is a vital levy that should be renewed so that valuable programs can continue. The levy is already in place, it is already contributing to the communities of the county, it just needs to be renewed. The citizens of Washington County cannot allow this levy to expire; they would risk losing so much without it.