Elections Information

City of Grants Pass Police & Fire Local Option Tax Rate Levy - Summary Information

An election is coming on November 7, 2023, and the City of Grants Pass has referred a City proposed ballot measure 17-114 that, if passed, renews the current City Police and Fire Local Option levy ending June 30, 2024. Funds raised by the levy would be used solely for Grants Pass Police and Fire operations.

Continuation of current Police and Fire Service. This local option tax is a renewal of the current City Police and Fire levy at exactly the same rate.

  • Since 1986, City voters have funded Police and Fire by approving levies.
  • 1996 - $4.13 per thousand set as Permanent Property Tax Rate for City. This amount alone is insufficient to fund Police and Fire services.
  • 1998 - Local option tax levy established to help fund Police and Fire operational services. This levy must be renewed by voters. All local option tax levy monies are dedicated to Police and Fire operations.
  • 2010 - $1.79 current local option tax rate approved by voters. It has been renewed for one five-year levy, and two three-year levies, for a total of 11 years.
  • This current local option tax rate expires June 30, 2024. 

 If approved, the levy would remain unchanged from the levy that will expire June 30, 2024. The proposed levy would be dedicated to City Police and Fire services for the next five years.

 Police and Fire Funding. Permanent property tax revenues are insufficient to fund Public Safety at the current service level.  Police and Fire local option taxes, such as this one, have been approved to provide Public Safety funding.

 Maintain Current Police and Fire Services. This local option tax rate levy would maintain current services including Police and Fire/Rescue emergency responses 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Other services include: 

  • 911 dispatch services                                
  • Traffic enforcement
  • Vehicle crash/emergency medical response
  • Gang prevention
  • Crime/fire prevention
  • Detectives/Major crime investigations
  • K-9 program
  • Drug enforcement
  • SWAT/Negotiation Team
  • Community policing/school programs
  • Crisis support services
  • Fire protection/response
  • Wildfire prevention

 Tax Impacts. This proposal is for a five-year local option tax levy dedicated to City Police and Fire services from July 1, 2024, through June 30, 2029. The tax rate for this levy would be $1.79 per $1,000 of assessed value, which is approximately $6,718,700 in Fiscal Year 2025, $6,853,100 in Fiscal Year 2026, $6,990,200 in Fiscal Year 2027, $7,130,000 in Fiscal Year 2028, and $7,272,600 in Fiscal Year 2029. The average Grants Pass home would pay $380 per year in Fiscal Year 2025.

 Renewal of Current Local Option Taxes. Renewing the local option tax would continue to provide tax funding for Public Safety. Currently 21% of Public Safety budget is funded by the local option tax rate. If the levy is not approved, this tax resource would not be available to Public Safety. A loss of 21% to the Public Safety budget may impact the ability to provide Police and Fire response time standards for emergency calls. If approved, the levy rate would remain unchanged from the levy that will expire June 30, 2024.

 A “yes” vote would be in favor of the local option tax levy. A “no” vote would be against the local option tax levy.