In favor of the county’s public safety measure

We urge support for Proposition 1, the county public safety sales tax measure.

The measure is narrowly tailored to fill funding gaps and address urgent priorities. 60% of the proceeds would go to Thurston County, and 40% to the cities. The county's portion would be used under tight parameters set out in the county's resolution that placed the measure on the ballot. The cities' shares would be more flexible to meet their individualized needs. The Lacey City Council passed a resolution on 10/19 to align with the county and limit its portion to law enforcement capacity.

Thurston County's share would address three of the county's most pressing priorities.

First, up to 75% will address staffing shortages in the Sheriff's Office. Sheriff staffing was cut during tough times in years past and has never caught up. In the five coverage districts for the unincorporated parts of Thurston County, there are typically only one or two deputies on the road at any given time (7 or 8 county-wide). At a minimum, this number should be 10: two deputies on the road in each coverage area. This is the basic staffing level needed for timely responses to serious emergencies like domestic violence calls. Although there are different methodologies for calculating staffing levels, the two most prominent ones put Thurston County at 38th out of 39 counties in Washington state. With violent crime rates rising, this shortage compromises public safety at the most fundamental level.

Second, the measure will, over time, help stabilize the county's financial structure. County governments do not have the same number of revenue streams as cities. One of the primary streams --- property tax --- is capped at 1% growth each year by state law. County governments struggle to keep pace with even modest rising expenses, such as the 2.5% cost-of-living increases for employees that Thurston County has consistently provided its staff. This financing structure makes it impossible for the county to ever be able to catch up on law enforcement staffing or other priorities dependent on the General Fund, such as parks and trails. With this new dedicated funding stream, the county can provide adequate public safety and also fund other priorities with its base revenue, as the county grows, and general-fund revenue sources increase. It adds another, much-needed “leg” to the county financing stool.

Finally, the resolution would allow a portion of the proceeds to be used for election security. We are all aware that threats of violence have escalated around ballot counting and election processes in recent years. A couple of years ago, the county invested in a new space to expand and improve its Elections Center. However, rising costs and detailed security recommendations from the Department of Homeland Security have made the necessary renovations cost-prohibitive. This measure would help ensure our local elections continue to be the safest and most accurate in the nation.

The benefits of the public safety measure go well beyond “cops on the streets.” Thurston County has critical funding priorities and no other way to address them. We urge a “yes” vote on Prop 1 on November 7.

          ~ Tye Menser, Thurston County Commissioner, District 3