Jefferson County voters overwhelmingly passed a $7 million levy to pay for operations at the 160-bed county jail, less than a year after low turnout doomed an identical measure.

”I’m grateful I live in a community that prioritizes public safety as something important,” said Jefferson County Sheriff Jack Jones. ”It’s great to go back and let everybody at work know they don’t have to be as fearful about their jobs.”

In unofficial results from the Jefferson County Clerk’s Office, 58 percent of voters supported the measure, with roughly 52 percent turnout.

Jones said turnout was the key in this election, after the levy failed in the May 17 election under the ”double majority” rule, which requires 50 percent turnout and a majority of ”yes” votes to pass tax measures in certain elections.

More than 50 percent of ballots in that vote were in favor of the levy, but only about 46 percent of voters submitted ballots, said Jefferson County Clerk Kathy Marston.

The five-year, $7 million levy will tax property owners at 99 cents for every $1,000 of assessed property value, or $148.50 in taxes each year on a $150,000 home.

If the levy hadn’t passed in this election or in May 2006, the county would have sharply cut back operations at the 160-bed jail, said Jones. The current operations levy expires in 2006.

Election results are unofficial until certified by the county clerk. Results must be certified by Nov. 28.

Voters in Jefferson and Deschutes counties decided two other measures in Tuesday’s election:

* Black Butte Ranch residents approved a five-year levy to fund law enforcement on the ranch, with 81 percent of ballots in favor of the measure. It will cost property owners an additional 40 cents per $1,000 of assessed value annually for five years. The owner of a $250,000 home will pay an additional $100 annually.

Homeowners currently pay $1.05 per $1,000 in assessed value.

The levy, which also required a double majority, will be used to maintain 24-hour patrols, seven days per week, according to a draft argument in favor of the ballot issue. The levy is needed to pay officers who recently negotiated pay increases as part of a five-year labor contract, the argument states.

The levy will raise an estimated $179,000 in 2006-2007, the first year of the levy and $206,000 in 2010-2011, the last year of the levy.

* Metolius residents voted 84-78 to approve the proposed annexation of 38 acres on the south side of Metolius. The proposal must still go before the Metolius City Council before annexation can occur.