Curry County commissioners place law-enforcement levy on May 2025 ballot amid heated public debate over jail and staffing

The Curry County Board of Commissioners on Dec. 19 voted 3-0 to place a five-year local option tax measure on the May 2025 ballot asking voters whether to levy $1.12 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund the Curry County Sheriff’s Office. The measure, as read into the record, estimates annual revenue of about $4,280,920 to add five patrol deputies, two dispatchers and one sergeant and to provide about $122,605 toward marine and search-and-rescue services.

The question was read aloud during the meeting by Commissioner Jay Troese, who presented the ballot language the board approved to place on the ballot. “Should Curry County levy $1.12 per $1,000 of assessed property value 2025 to 2030 to fund Curry County Sheriff’s Office patrol and 911 dispatch,” Troese read before the board moved and voted to place the measure before voters.

Why it matters: Commissioners said they want voters to decide whether to restore services and staffing the county and sheriff’s office have lost in recent years. The levy is framed by county staff as a way to replace about $1,180,000 in restricted road funds used for patrol and roughly $1,253,258 from the Curry County general fund that currently help pay for patrol, SAR and marine patrol costs.

Public comment and union response: The item drew extended public comment. Representatives of Teamsters Local 223, which represents Curry County sheriff’s office personnel,…