Sheriff urges renewal of Josephine County jail levy as juvenile detention faces shortfall

Sheriff Dave Daniel and Community Corrections Director Scott Hyde told the Board of County Commissioners on June 23 that the county’s Adult Jail and Juvenile Detention Levy needs renewal and supplemental funding to sustain juvenile detention services. Daniel said the levy rate has remained $0.93 per $1,000 of assessed value for ten years and that escalating operating costs have produced a structural funding deficit.

Director Scott Hyde told commissioners that roughly $0.89 of the levy is required to maintain current adult jail operations, leaving about $0.04 available for juvenile detention. Hyde said additional funding would be needed to sustain juvenile services until a long-term solution—such as creation of a juvenile services district—could be developed.

Commissioners discussed the fiscal pressures of inflation, staffing stability and the operational impacts of reduced detention capacity. The board noted that renewing the levy at the current rate would not raise the millage but would place questions about juvenile services’ long-term funding on county leaders to resolve.

No formal motion to place a measure on the ballot was recorded at the meeting. Commissioners instructed staff and legal counsel to continue discussions before the July deadline for ballot measures.

The board’s next steps, as discussed in the meeting, include further analysis by legal counsel and staff on levy placement options, timelines for any district-formation processes, and outreach to assess voter sentiment.