Deschutes County Sheriff, Commissioner, clash over proposed tax increase

Published 5:30 am Thursday, May 25, 2023

The Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office is seeking to increase assessed tax rates for districts supporting its office to the maximum level, a proposal that prompted a tense exchange between a county commissioner and the sheriff in a Tuesday meeting.

If approved, the $65.2 million budget for fiscal year 2024 would be an 8.7% increase from last year’s roughly $59 million budget.

In a nearly two hour meeting, Deschutes County Sheriff Shane Nelson, and other sheriff’s office officials, highlighted challenges and initiatives to be addressed through the requested budget. Among them:

• Changes to state laws around drugs and firearms that could increase staffing requirements and sheriff’s office practices and training.

• Inflation — which has increased prices for jail food and other supplies — and the shifting economy.

• New technology and construction for aging buildings and other facilities.

• Policing during ongoing crises around fentanyl, mental illness and homelessness.

• Law enforcement activity driven by tourism in the county.

Two tax districts — a countywide district and a rural district — help financially support the sheriff’s office. Now it’s seeking to bump tax rates for residents of the countywide district by 17 cents, up to $1.25 per $1,000 of assessed value, and a 12 cent increase in the rural district, up to $1.55. This comes after the county increased the rate in the rural district by 9 cents last year.

Deschutes County Commissioner Phil Chang voiced concerns Tuesday over the potential responses from taxpayers after years when the sheriff’s office seldom sought such increases, sparking a disagreement with Nelson.

“I would like to be able to support all those things, but it’s hard,” Chang said. “We’ve seen great decreases, and now we’re getting whiplash from flipping back the other way just a couple years later.”

“‘With all due respect, I disagree with you, commissioner,” Nelson said.

Chang continued: “Being able to support requests for needed services and strategic investments has to come with foresight and good financial planning.”

“And you have that,” Nelson responded. “And if you’re implying that we don’t, I take serious question with that.”

The sheriff’s office is also seeking to add seven new positions in the upcoming fiscal year: a criminal analyst, two field law enforcement technicians, two detectives, a wellness coordinator and an additional law enforcement technician.

It’s also budgeting an increase in the cost of auto purchases of 17% and, notably, a 75% increase in car supplies and labor, Jim Fister, a budget committee member, said during the meeting.

“That’s an increase of $1 million,” Fister said of the increase to supplies and labor. “That’s close to 2% of your budget. That hurts.”

Sheriff’s Capt. Paul Garrison explained that cost is handed down by the lender the office contracts with.

Sheriff’s office officials touted a number of accomplishments as examples for why they deserve the increased public financial support. These include a jail treatment facility, expansions to a safe gun storage program and health-focused programs for employees and a program for people to be supervised as they are released pending trial dates.

The county did not increase tax rates for the sheriff’s office for the rural district from 2008 through 2022, and even cut rates one year. It didn’t increase rates for the countywide district from 2008 to 2015. The sheriff’s office claims this saved taxpayers $83.6 million.

“You always gotta take a look at the positive,” Nelson said. “If we don’t remind ourselves what we accomplished as a sheriff’s office through these tax districts, it’s pretty easy to forget.”

Chang said that he understands that a $6 million budget increase is “absolutely necessary” for covering sheriff’s office operations and maintaining its financial reserves.

“I guess my concern is, these are significant assessed rate increases,” he said.

Nelson said he shared Chang’s concerns.

In an interview with The Bulletin Wednesday, Nelson acknowledged that some county residents may be concerned about increased taxes, but he trusts the budget committee would make the right decision, which is expected Thursday.

“I have a lot of respect for everybody who I work with in that room,” he said. “You’re always going to have different opinions.”

Commissioner Tony DeBone told The Bulletin Wednesday: “This is where inflation gets plugged into public budgets.” He said he understands that the sheriff’s office needs to make upgrades to different facilities. Asked about Chang’s stance, he said: “I see it very differently. I know we’re in a spot where things are happening fast,” and added that county entities sometimes need to make quick decisions to adjust.

But he added: “We’re watching every penny. We’re serious about not spending more than we need to.”