Below is an email I sent to the Coos County commissioners asking if they would be receptive to holding public hearings on some of the options presented by the governors task force to investigate solutions for cash strapped counties. None of the recommendations contained in the report appear to be a topic of interest with any of the county’s advisory committees or the commissioners.
The Governor’s Task Force on Federal Forest Payments and County Services, final report dated January 2009 offers several suggestions that deserve public debate and consideration. In addition to reducing the burden Coos County low property tax rate places on the rest of Oregon taxpayers by bringing property tax rates more into line with the rest of the state, the report recommends the formation of special taxing districts and enacting local option levies. These are important issues that should be brought before the public in a series of hearings to debate the merits and pitfalls before being summarily dismissed by the commission.
The report suggests that some of these changes may take up to four years to implement and this report is now almost three years old. Will the commission present these findings to the public and hold public hearings? The public have a right to know about these options and the many other options presented.
Thank you,
Mary Geddry
I would encourage anyone else that believes the public may have something to contribute to solving the problems facing the county to consider contacting the commissioners as well. Feel free to use the above template.
Call Commissioner
Robert “Bob” Main at
(541) 396-3121 ext 770
bmain@co.coos.or.us
Call Commissioner
Fred Messerle at
(541) 396-3121 ext 247
fmesserle@co.coos.or.us
Call Commissioner
Cam Parry at
(541) 396-3121 ext 281
cparry@co.coos.or.us
