| Josephine County Democrats
News Summary & Events
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Be The Change! -- Swing JoCo Blue -- Join Us & Bring a Friend
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October Meeting to Highlight November Election |
We will be discussing the pros and cons of the Grants Pass Public Safety Levy Renewal (Measure 17-114) AND the Sheriff's Law Enforcement Service District (Measure 17-115). After discussion, Precinct Committee Persons will vote on whether our local Democratic Party will "support", or "oppose", or take no stand on these measures.
To spark the discussion, several of our local members have penned their opinions on the Pros and Cons. Today, we print those for the Grants Pass Levy. Next week, just before our meeting, we will publicize the same for the Sheriff's District. |
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GP Levy - PRO
While there has been plenty of controversy around the idea of tacking a $30 fee onto Grants Pass utility bills to shore up public safety, that issue shouldn’t be confused with the on-going property tax levy supplementing public safety in the city. The current levy rate is $1.79 per $1000 of assessed property value (assessed values are usually lower than market values). The levy costs homeowners an average of $380 annually, or about $32 a month.
The Grants Pass City Council will be asking residents to renew that levy at its current level for another five years November 7. Two attempts to raise the levy to $1.89, in 2008 and again in 2020 failed. Voters have rejected increases in the levy twice, a proposed service district to create permanent funding for public safety and a sales tax proposal. Those rejections have come around as desperation, the kind that keeps Councilors awake nights trying to figure out how to keep constituents safe.
Without the additional income these rejected measures might have generated, Grants Pass fire and police services have gradually slipped into a place where cuts are getting harder and harder to make.... READ FULL OPINOIN
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| GP Levy - CON
One of the pros of living in Grants Pass, Oregon is the reputation for low property taxes and that is a big attractor for retired or retiring people coming in from out-of-state.
When we perpetuate a tax levy and keep the high taxes the City loses its appeal for people on fixed incomes. Further, the way the Tax Levy is worded in the City’s web page states that average families would pay $380.00 per year and at $1.79 per $1,000.00 of assessed value it assumes a home value of $212,000.
Homeowners should pull out their last tax bill and review the current tax and the assessed value. Remember that the assessed value of your home increases by law 3% per year. |
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| First Friday Social at Two Rivers Vineyard |
DATE: 10/6/2023 Time: 2 - 4 PM Location: Two Rivers Vineyards - Dinsdale
2123 Riverbanks Rd, Grants Pass, OR 97527 |
We will be gathering at the Two Rivers on Riverbanks Rd for some wine, food, music, good conversation and the beautiful outdoors in the valley between the Applegate and Rogue Rivers.
Wine prices vary by the year/type. Sara always has some food available via a food truck. This month will be delicious eats from Fatso's Cheketos Food Truck with salads, soup, sandwiches, sweets and more! There will be live music by Rachael Sandeen from 2-4pm.
We will gather starting at 2. Look for the group with a donkey toy nearby. |
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DATE: 10/10/2023 Time: 6:30PM
Location: Unitarian Universalist and via Zoom |
Speakers from the Grants Pass Fire Department will be joining us. We will be discussing the pros and cons of the City Levy and the Law Enforcement District that will be on the ballot in November.
Gathering will be in-person at Unitarian Universalist and via Zoom. 6:30 is Social. 7:00 is JCDCC General Meeting with speaker and business.
If attending via Zoom, you must register in advance. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. |
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| DATE
: 10/11/2023 Time: 5:30PM |
Concerned about local mining, Hellgate dredging, White Horse RV Park, or Timber? How about all the Land Use and Zoning changes that John West and Herman Baertschiger are talking about?
Join Us! Register in advance for this Zoom meeting. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting. |
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DATE: 10/25/2023 Time: 4:30 - 7:00PM Location: To Be Determined! |
Gather with like-minded people in Josephine County! Have a drink, some snacks or a full dinner. Come early or later… this is a loose event. All welcome! |
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| DATE: 09/26/2023 Time: 6:00 PM Location: Josephine County Democrats Office |
Do you believe in full equality for all Oregonians? So do we. But we can’t make it a reality without your help.
Whether it’s same-sex marriage, employment rights for LGBT workers, or civil liberties, Josephine County Stonewall Democrats work every day to ensure fair representation of LGBT Oregonians. Come join us in this important work! |
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Need Assistance with a past income tax return?
Did you get a letter from the IRS or Oregon Department of Revenue? If a professional preparer did your taxes, go there first. If you did them yourself, there are taxpayer advocate services for both federal and state. Contact them.
-- IRS Taxpayer Advocates
-- Oregon Taxpayer Advocates |
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TO THE RIGHT OF REALITY – SEPTEMBER 20-23
The defeat of Grants Pass Mayor was fully expected by those running the recall effort against her. The drubbing was not. Voters soundly rejected the recall by a no vote of 64.3 percent to a 35.7 percent yes vote.
“Under the circumstances, with the number of people that stormed the office to discuss this and plead for help, you know, you woulda thought more people would’ve come out in support of their needs, But they didn’t. They just didn’t. It was a shock,” said Josephine County Republican Party Chair Holli Morton on KMED Radio’s Bill Meyer Show the day after the election.
Morton blamed the defeat on Gov. Tina Kotek’s visit August 16, nearly a month before the election. READ THE WHOLE ARTICLE
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| WE OFFER SEVERAL WAYS TO CONTRIBUTE! Send your checks directly to the office:
Josephine County Democrats
PO Box 2007
Grants Pass, OR 97528 Online via: ACT BLUE |
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Josephine County Democrats
PO Box 2007
Grants Pass, OR 97528
United States
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