When Coos County Commissioner Melissa Cribbins first took office in January 2013 County government was going broke. An Oregonian Editorial the year before said Coos was among timber dependent counties, “veering towards fiscal collapse.” In 2012 Oregon’s Secretary of State (SOS) started every other year auditing of 10 county governments with severe budget problems. Coos, of course, was on the list.
The 2012 SOS Audit found Coos County “spending on public safety is already among the lowest in the state.” SOS also said, “The County anticipates further declines in revenues, reserves and fund balances.” County officials told SOS ”They will need to consider liquidating County assets to pay expenses.” These assets included the County Forrest and County Parks.
The 2014 SOS Audit found that for Coos County “achieving a balanced budget will become more difficult with further reductions in discretionary revenues.” County Government faced a grim future.
However, by 2016 County finances improved to the point that SOS found Coos County was no longer at a “higher risk of distress” and we were dropped from the list of “Counties to monitor.” Of the remaining 4 Counties on that list 3 were out neighbors; Curry, Douglas and Josephine.
Coos County’s budget was stabilized without increasing taxes, cutting public services or firing workers. In the 10 years Ms. Cribbins has been Commissioner the Board has increased revenue without taxation and saved money by reorganizing departments. In some areas such as mental health, public services have improved and expanded.
These dramatic improvements in County finances are an extraordinary achievement that all 3 Commissioners deserve credit for. However, Ms. Cribbins work on this issue was crucial. For this reason alone, she deserves reelection.
Ms. Cribbins opponent Rod Taylor says the County should refuse state and federal funds because the money has “strings attached”. This policy would quickly force the County into insolvency. Mr. Taylor also wants the County to disobey state and federal laws the Commissioners don’t like.
Many states have laws authorizing state government to take over local governments that go broke or won’t operate legally. From time to time this type of legislation has been proposed for Oregon. If implemented Mr. Taylors policies would likely end with the state taking control Coos County government.
Ms. Cribbins has a solid record of achievement. She believes in collaborative leadership and common-sense solutions. She is knowledgeable and accessible to citizens. Unlike Mr. Taylor Ms. Cribbins politics are anchored in reality.
