Court deadlocks on informative ballot question about changing county governance

Judge Hart brought forward a proposal to place an informational question on the primary ballot asking whether Harney County should pursue changing its form of government from a county court to a board of commissioners. He said the question would function as a "temperature check" to show legislators local support for removing Harney County from a statutory list limiting probate authority.

Supporters said asking residents could provide a clear signal to legislators and advance the county's ability to choose its governance structure in future sessions. Opponents warned voters are unlikely to understand the legal nuance and that an ill-timed or poorly worded informational question could produce misleading results. One commissioner argued, "I am very supportive of representative governments, but I do not feel comfortable asking the citizenry to vote on the nuance of the difference between county courts and board of commissioners when they don't understand the transient tax bill because they won't read it."

After extended debate about timing, statutory prerequisites (ORS removal from the probate list), and the value of drafting a targeted legislative request, Judge Hart made a motion to place an informational question on the ballot; the motion failed for lack of a second and the measure was not placed on the ballot at this meeting.