This tax levy meets the challenges of upcoming mandates placed on the city by the Legislature. These mandates require closure of the Stayton 911 Dispatch Center, to consolidate 911 calls to one center per county, which will increase dispatch costs for citizens of Aumsville; and costly changes in employer’s required contributions to the Public Employees Retirement System. These mandates, combined with other increased operating costs, will leave the city’s General Fund short of the necessary funding to continue the current levels of police and park services. The estimated financial impact also left the city short on funding for a COPS Grant to gain an officer, which would bring us back to 24-hour police coverage.

The financial forecast shows the need for increasing property taxes to retain the department’s current police officers. Without additional tax money, police services will drop below the current level of four positions, which resulted from the failure of a Law Enforcement Levy in 2000 that cut one police officer and eliminated 24-hour police service in Aumsville. Failure of this levy will limit police response to calls for service. In some cases, there may not be any officer to respond. The impacts of such reductions are magnified by funding gaps at the Marion County Sheriff’s Department that limit their ability to cover major incidents in Aumsville when Aumsville Police Department personnel are not on duty.

In addition to the projected shortfalls in the Police Department, the city is also looking at funding shortages in the Park Fund. The costs to maintain and operate city parks exceed the money dedicated to the Park Fund from State Revenue Sharing and the Voice Stream water tower antenna lease.

The Aumsville City Council and staff determined the way to continue providing city services with the lowest cost impact possible was to bring this $450,567 levy to the voters. Forecasting $450,567 out over four years, averages out to a $1.15 per $1,000 of property value, per year, taxpayer cost.

This levy provides:

„ $92,704.25 additional Police Fund money per year for four years, totaling $370,817. To pay the personnel costs for the current police officers, maintain the current police vehicles, provide police and office supplies, maintain the current equipment and building, apply for an additional Cops Grant officer, and provide $12,680 in additional capital outlay over the next four years.

„ $19,937.50 additional Park Fund money per year for four years, totaling $79,750. To pay public works personnel, power, equipment, recreation activities, and fuel costs for maintenance and operation of city parks.

Submitted by,

MaryAnn N. Hills