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Josephine County approves one‑year pilot to offer free annual camping trip to disabled veterans
Summary
The Board of Commissioners voted 3‑0 to launch a one‑year pilot allowing county residents with service‑connected disabilities one free camping trip (up to three consecutive nights) at Josephine County parks; the Parks Department will track use and may seek reimbursement from the Veterans Service Office budget.
The Josephine County Board of Commissioners on March 3 approved a pilot program allowing county residents who have a service‑connected disability one free camping trip each year of up to three consecutive nights at county parks.
The program, approved by a 3‑0 vote, will be administered by the Parks Department with eligibility verification and reservation handling done in person at the parks office. Staff said the pilot is intended as an honorific and recreational offering to increase park use among veterans with service‑connected disabilities.
Currently a park parking pass costs $30 a year. Parks staff said roughly 1,530 veterans have at some point picked up a pass and that the department distributes between 475 and 500 passes annually. Under the new pilot, eligible veterans would be allowed one multi‑night camping reservation per calendar year; the reservation must be made via the parks office and is subject to site availability (holiday weekends and sold‑out weekends would be excluded). Once a qualifying veteran’s reservation is confirmed it would not be “bumped.”
The Parks Department will track nights used with its reservation software and report utilization. Staff said they would ask the Veterans Service Office (VSO) to reimburse nights used out of that office’s budget; Parks noted it cannot obligate other departments’ funds without their approval. Finance staff flagged that, if VSO reimbursement is not available, general fund dollars could be used; other possible funding sources mentioned included limited state suicide‑prevention funds but staff said restrictions likely apply.
County staff noted the Parks Foundation and community donations could be used to offset costs; the Parks Foundation already has a donations line for specific programs. The pilot will be evaluated after one year; the motion that created the pilot included a one‑year sunset so the board can renew or discontinue the program based on utilization and budget impacts.
Board members made and seconded the motion and a roll call recorded Commissioners Smith, Barnett and Blythe voting yes; the motion carried 3‑0.
