OSU Extension proposes voter‑funded Washington County service district to boost 4‑H, programming and fairgrounds work

OSU Extension presented a voter‑proposed service district that would phase in a 5¢ per $1,000 local option tax (1¢ per year) to grow its Washington County operating budget from about $500,000 to roughly $4.5 million annually by year five; an alternate immediate 5¢ model would accelerate reserves for fairgrounds capital. County staff were asked to return with refined budgets, engagement plans and clear ballot language.