There are six Lane County measures on the ballot, from park improvements to jail upgrading. We recommend passing almost all of them, as they provide much needed infrastructure support for the county.
We are voting no on only the parks measure, as it is the most expensive and mostly provides for adding RV sites and horse trails rather than expanding undeveloped areas.
If all six measures were adopted, property owners with a home worth $125,000 would pay up to $46.83 annually in higher property taxes.
Measure 20-59 would upgrade and expand the Jail Intake Center, improving the county’s ability to process serious offenders. Vote yes.
Measure 20-60 would upgrade emergency communications equipment so officers in far-flung areas of the county can respond safely to emergencies. Vote yes.
Measure 20-61 would give the courthouse more complete disabled access and allow longer operating hours for records retrieval and handgun licensing.
Measure 20-62 is the parks measure. Vote no.
Measure 20-63 allows Public Health to replace their decades-old converted tavern and safely continue their much-needed public service work. Vote yes.
Measure 20-65 would build a new planetarium and offer kids science education that they can’t get at our underfunded schools. Vote yes.
One caveat: We might have made different endorsements if more students owned property.