Charter Update Group meets petition goal

Denise Krause: "Today's signatures put us over our goal."

Jackson County for All initiative logs in over 10,700 signatures -- 3,300 more than the required number.

Denise Krause was busy last night, and every night for the past week, logging in petitions. This was the final push to get more than enough signatures to assure they could get the three proposals on the ballot. The required number is 8,351. The extras were to make sure that there were ample reserves in case of duplicates, unregistered voters, or unverifiable signatures.

Krause, Tuesday evening, 7:00 p.m.

About 200 people were involved in gathering signatures. Many came in by mail from people who downloaded and printed each of the three petition pages.  Everyone involved with the Jackson County for All initiative is a volunteer.

Two days' mail this week.

Regina Ayars and John Littleton log in signatures

Measure one changes the county commission office from partisan to nonpartisan. Every other office in Jackson County government is nonpartisan. All the city council and school board offices in the county are nonpartisan. 

Measure two increases the number of commissioners to five from the current three. Oregon Territory established a three-person governing body in 1853 when the county’s census was fewer than 4,000 people.

Measure three reduces the salaries of the commissions to about half their current salaries. Current salaries are in excess of $143,000 per year, by far the highest of any of Oregon's 36 counties -- and $45,000 more than Oregon's governor. The initiative reduces commissioner salaries to help cover the expenses of adding two new commissioners.

Krause said she would be attending the commissioners' Study Session on Thursday morning when County Administrator Danny Jordan will report on the fiscal effect of this change. Krause expects Jordan to come in with high numbers to reflect new offices, perks, and benefits for five commissioners instead of three. He will be allocating systemwide charges for computer access, software licensing, HR, building maintenance, electricity and other utilities, and sheriff deputy pensions, as allocations to the two new commissioners.

Krause is undaunted. She expects Jordan to recommend an additional secretary, which is another cost. "I'm not surprised that an additional administrative position might be justified," she said. "There will be more representation, more citizen engagement, and more work getting done. Possibly that will mean more clerical work to provide the additional public service. That is a good thing."

In a conversation with Jordan two weeks ago, Jordan told me to expect a significant figure for substantial remodels to accommodate a larger board. They would need offices, desks, and computer terminals, he said. He cited an example of the facilities changes that would be required: He said the county Budget Committee may choose to continue to hold meetings in the County Auditorium. In that case, he said the current elevated dais would not comfortably fit 10 members while it does fit the current six. (A Budget Committee consists of a public member for each elected official.) I considered that a heads up to expect a stretch number, since a free alternative is readily at hand. The dais need not be remodeled at all. Budget committee members could sit at tables in front of the raised dais, not on it, as we did back when I was a commissioner -- a thriftier era. 

Krause said she thought Jordan would be high-balling numbers to give a cost estimate that would please the incumbent commissioners, each of whom oppose making changes to their current jobs. "The county has other auditoriums and the commissioners don't need palatial offices barricaded behind the locked doors on the 2nd floor. Don't we want commissioners out in the community?"

Krause said she has been trying to get the figures that Jordan will present on Thursday and will be happy to see them. "The public has a right to know how much the commissioners are costing us, the taxpayers who are footing the bill."

She added, "This can be expensive if the county wants to do things in the most expensive possible way. That is the problem with the county that these initiatives are trying to change. The commissioners have got a sweet deal and they are trying to hang onto it."

The initiative organizers expect to put the issue on the May primary ballot. No formal opposition to the ballot measures has yet emerged, but the incumbent county commissioners have registered their opposition, and have been in contact with the local Republican party. Curt Ankerberg and Randy Sparacino have both expressed opposition to the measures. They are candidates for the Republican nomination to fill the position currently held by David Dotterer, who is not seeking re-election.

[Note: I support these measures. I consider them long overdue. I have contributed money to their campaign and have purchased cookies at a fundraising auction supporting their effort.]

 

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