A measure to levy additional funds to cover county law enforcement services was defeated by a wide margin. noIn a prelude of what Coos County might expect if a more equitable taxation system isn’t devised 58% of voters refused to pay additional taxes, opening the door for the Governor Kitzhaber to come in and raise them anyway. The Oregonian reports Curry County could be the first test of a new law giving the governor the power to work with county officials to impose local taxes – and tap state funds – in cases of “public safety fiscal emergencies.”

Coos County can be ahead of the game, barely, if we rise up and pressure our commissioners and state legislators to do away with the timber subsidies, special assessments and reinstate a severance tax. After all, as an investment, the giveaways to the timber industry have definitely not paid off.