Curry County officials and residents spar over proposed five-year public-safety levy, call for audit

A Curry County workshop on Nov. 25 centered on a proposed five-year law-enforcement levy that would charge $1.12 per $1,000 of assessed property value to raise an estimated $4,280,910.11 in its initial year and to fund additional patrol deputies and dispatch staff.

Georgia, who led the presentation for the citizen group supporting the levy, told the Board of Commissioners the measure "would be a 5 year levy ... should the county levy $1.12 per thousand of assessed property value, be approved." She said the proposal is intended to fund eight patrol deputies and two dispatchers and that a five-member citizen review board would oversee levy expenditures.

County Clerk Shelley and staff explained the administrative steps and forms required to place the measure on the ballot, including submitting an SEL 805 (the initial measure notice) and, after the public-comment period, filing SEL 801. Staff noted a special-district election process means no state voters' pamphlet is produced and that any county communications to voters must be strictly factual.

Commissioners and staff parsed the levy’s financial mechanics. Finance staff presented a preliminary allocation showing the levy would free an estimated $1,253,258 in general-fund…