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Columbia County discusses renewing jail local-option levy; moves into executive session with no immediate vote
Summary
County counsel presented an updated explanatory statement for a proposed four-year renewal of the Columbia County jail local-option levy and staff moved to file an order authorizing an election; commissioners entered executive session citing statutes and returned with no actions taken.
County counsel on March 12 presented an updated explanatory statement and asked the Board of Commissioners to approve Order No. 8-2025, which would put a four-year renewal of the Columbia County jail local-option levy on the ballot.
Sarah Hansen, county counsel, said the explanatory statement had been edited to improve impartiality and noted a change in wording in the explanatory paragraph from “local public safety concerns” to “local public safety issues.” Hansen told commissioners the ballot title itself cannot be changed but the explanatory statement can be revised; she said the county must file the ballot title and explanatory statement together and that the filing deadline is "the twentieth." Hansen also said the county will receive a ballot measure number after filing.
At the meeting a motion was offered to approve Order No. 8-2025 and to authorize the chair to sign the notice of measure election and explanatory statement; a formal mover and second were not recorded in the public transcript. The board then went into executive session pursuant to ORS 192.660(2)(f) and ORS 192.660(2)(h) to consider information exempt from public inspection and to consult with counsel regarding litigation. The chair allowed media and designated staff to attend but instructed the public and other participants to leave; the chair reiterated that no decision may be made in executive session.
After the executive session the board returned to open session and announced that no actions were taken. The meeting then recessed and commissioners were recast to attend the routine February 2025 annual inspection of the Columbia County Jail. No formal vote to place the measure on the ballot was recorded during the public meeting.
The item remains pending: staff and counsel will file the ballot title and explanatory statement if directed and will supply the final ballot-measure number when it is assigned. The explanatory statement and any final edits must be filed together by the stated filing deadline.
