As of 5:00 pm on Wednesday, November 9th, Springfield voters have approved the renewal of the five-year public safety levy with a count of 14,888 ‘yes’ votes & 7,873 ‘no’. These numbers show the largest voter turnout & level of voter approval in the history of the public safety levy, with over 65% of voters indicating support of the renewal.
Chief of Police, Andrew Shearer, shared the following:
“The Springfield Police Department remains committed to holding accountable those who endanger our sense of community, while at the same time strengthening relationships with those who we are fortunate to serve. Recognizing that trust is at the core of what we do, every member of SPD will continue to treat everyone with dignity and respect. This department remains rooted in the values of professionalism, integrity, courage, & honor while standing steadfast in our commitment to continuous improvement. We thank the community for this show of support and for their belief in the work that SPD does every day to ensure the safety of the City of Springfield.”
Ballot Measure 20-327
IF PASSED WOULD RENEW 5-YEAR LOCAL OPTION LEVY FOR JAIL & POLICE SERVICES
Ballot Measure 20-327 proposes renewal of a five-year levy of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value beginning in July 2023 for Springfield’s municipal jail and required medical and mental health services, police, support personnel, and municipal court operations. If passed, the levy would be a renewal and replace the current levy, which is set to expire in June 2023.
Ballot Measure 20-327
Shall Springfield levy $1.40 per $1,000 assessed valuation for five years beginning 2023/2024 for Springfield jail operations and police services. This measure may cause property taxes to increase more than three percent.
Details & Summary of Measure 20-327
Springfield voters first passed a police services levy in 2002 and passed police services levies in 2006, 2012 and 2017. The current $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value levy expires in June 2023. If the proposed levy is renewed, the rate would remain the same at $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value.
Springfield Municipal Jail Operations
Springfield’s 98 bed municipal jail provides safe and secure detention of pre-sentenced and sentenced adults in custody for misdemeanor crimes such as property theft. Lodging of adults in custody in the Springfield Municipal Jail has reduced police officer transport and booking time, which has increased police officer availability for patrol and emergency response.
Since the jail opened, the number of property crimes in Springfield has decreased 52%. During the last five years of operation the jail maintained an average population of 41 inmates per day, including reduced capacity during COVID-19 restrictions. If passed, measure 20-327 would continue to provide funding for jail operations including required medical and mental health services.
Police Services
Police services that would be provided by proposed measure 20-327 include funding for about 40 positions including uniformed officers, community service officers, detention officers, dispatchers, call takers, and record clerks.
If passed, the levy would fund efforts to provide faster response times for both emergency and non-emergency calls for service, increase the number and types of calls officers respond to, and increase the number of patrol officers on duty each shift. The levy would also fund efforts to focus on specific neighborhood patrols and community engagement efforts.
Springfield Municipal Court
The current levy has funded 38 percent of Springfield Municipal Court operations, including two court clerks. In 2009, failure to appear instances in Springfield Municipal Court were 61 percent. Since the jail opened in 2010, that rate has dropped to 44 percent. Levy funding of Springfield Municipal Court operations has improved efficiency in the court process, increasing the number of cases settled to 85 percent within 90 days.
If passed, the proposed levy would:
- Maintain improved response times for emergency and non-emergency police services by funding lodging of adults in custody at the Springfield Municipal Jail
- Maintain municipal jail, police, and court services by funding roughly 40 positions
- Provide required medical and mental health services to adults in custody
- Maintain efficiency in municipal court process for misdemeanor cases and reduce failures to appear by funding 38% of court operations
- Maintain response to, and reduction of, property crimes as seen in the 52% reduction in such crimes since the jail opened
Proposed Levy Rate
If passed, proposed measure 20-327 would renew the levy at the same rate of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value for five years beginning in July 2023. The proposed levy would be a renewal of the current levy and reflects estimated costs of materials, services, and personnel through the five-year period.
The proposed levy is based upon assessed value, not market value. Based on an average assessed home value of $170,000, it would cost an average homeowner approximately $238 per year, or about $19.83 per month, in estimated taxes. If passed, the proposed rate would raise approximately $7,008,717 in 2023/24, $7,231,429 in 2024/25, $7,460,822 in 2025/26, $7,697,097 in 2026/27, and $7,940,459 in 2027/28, for a total of $37,338,524.
If the proposed levy does not pass, Springfield jail operations, police services, and municipal court operations would not be provided as proposed, and the current tax of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value would expire in June 2023.
Questions & Answers
Ballot Measure 20-327 proposes renewal of a five-year levy of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value beginning in July 2023 for Springfield’s municipal jail and required medical and mental health services, police, support personnel, and municipal court operations. The proposed levy would serve as a renewal and would replace the current levy, which is set to expire in June 2023.
The City of Springfield proposed measure 20-327 to continue to maintain Springfield Municipal Jail operations including required medical and mental health services, police service levels, and municipal court operations for an additional five years. Springfield voters first passed a police services levy in 2002 and passed police services levies in 2006, 2012 and 2017. The current $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value levy expires in June 2023. If the proposed levy is renewed, the rate would remain the same at $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value.
If passed, proposed measure 20-327 would renew the levy at the same rate of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value for five years beginning in July 2023. The proposed levy would be a renewal of the current levy and reflects estimated costs of materials, services, and personnel through the five-year period. The proposed levy is based upon assessed value, not market value. Based on an average assessed home value of $170,000, it would cost an average homeowner approximately $238 per year, or about $19.83 per month, in estimated taxes. If passed, the proposed rate would raise approximately $7,008,717 in 2023/24, $7,231,429 in 2024/25, $7,460,822 in 2025/26, $7,697,097 in 2026/27, and $7,940,459 in 2027/28, for a total of $37,338,524. If the proposed levy does not pass, Springfield jail operations, police services, and municipal court operations would not be provided as proposed, and the current tax of $1.40 per $1,000 of assessed value would expire in June 2023.
Election Day is Tuesday, November 8, 2022. Voter registration deadline is October 18, 2022. Ballots will be mailed, and official ballot drop site locations open on October 20, 2022. For more information about Elections, visit www.lanecounty.org/elections
If the levy passes, what would it fund?
Springfield’s 98 bed municipal jail provides safe and secure detention of pre-sentenced and sentenced adults in custody of misdemeanor crimes such as property theft. Lodging of adults in custody in the Springfield Municipal Jail has reduced police officer transport and booking time, which has increased police officer availability for patrol and emergency response.
Since the jail opened, the number of property crimes in Springfield has decreased 52%. During the last five years of operation the jail maintained an average population of 41 inmates per day, including reduced capacity during COVID-19 restrictions. If passed, proposed measure 20-327 would continue to provide funding for jail operations including required medical and mental health services.
What is the purpose of the municipal jail?
Springfield’s 98-bed jail provides local, safe, and secure detention for adults in custody after arrest. It holds adults in custody who are accused of misdemeanor crimes in Springfield like property theft. The jail provides a near term option that interrupts unlawful behavior and provides opportunities for adults in custody to access physical and mental health resources that can assist in rehabilitation.
Police services that would be provided by proposed measure 20-327 include funding for about 40 positions including uniformed officers, community service officers, detention officers, dispatchers, call takers, and record clerks. If passed, the levy would fund efforts to provide faster response times for both emergency and non-emergency calls for service, increase the number and types of calls officers respond to, and increase the number of patrol officers on duty each shift. The levy would also fund efforts to focus on specific neighborhood patrols and community engagement efforts.
The current levy has funded 38 percent of Springfield Municipal Court operations, including two court clerks. In 2009, failure to appear instances in Springfield Municipal Court were 61 percent. Since the jail opened in 2010, that rate has dropped to 44 percent. Levy funding of Springfield Municipal Court operations has improved efficiency in the court process, increasing the number of cases settled to 85 percent within 90 days.
What is the purpose of the municipal court?
The Springfield Municipal Court provides court proceedings and rulings for adults charged with misdemeanor crimes and violations, as well as traffic crimes and violations within Springfield. Misdemeanors involve crimes with penalties that could include jail time and potential fines whereas violations can only include a fine.
How do I request a presentation about Ballot Measure 20-327 for my organization?
The Springfield Police Department is able to provide presentations about Ballot Measure 20-327 to local community groups, non-profits, fraternal organizations, etc. upon request. If you would like for a representative of the department to give a presentation at a gathering of your group, please e-mail spdpi@springfield-or.gov or call 541.726.2247