Sheriff details jail needs and Nov. 4 public-safety levy as North Plains weighs funding for extra patrol

Sheriff Caprise Massey told the North Plains City Council on Oct. 6 that Washington County is facing infrastructure and capacity challenges in its jail system and outlined programs the county is using to reduce custody demand as it seeks voter support for a Public Safety Local Option Levy on the Nov. 4 ballot.

The levy, Massey said, currently covers about 16% of the Sheriff's Office budget and would raise the rate from 47 cents to 66 cents per $1,000 of assessed value, which she said equates to roughly $6 more per month for the average property. "The levy funds about 111 positions at the Sheriff's Office," she said, and also supports the Family Justice Center (soon to be the Family Peace Center).

Why it matters: Councilors and staff said the levy and county-level budget decisions have local implications for North Plains because the city contracts with the county for police services and is considering adding another full-time equivalent patrol officer. City Manager Bill Reid presented options and timelines for creating a sustainable funding stream to support that position, including pursuing a local option levy or a monthly fee on water bills.

Massey said three jail housing units remain closed for critical infrastructure repairs — a new roof, HVAC, water piping and fire suppression work — with repairs expected through the end of 2026. She cited a county jail capacity study projecting nearly 1,000 beds by 2055, compared with the county's current capacity of 572. To ease pressure, the Sheriff's Office is partnering with the county to house sentenced inmates elsewhere and has secured a $750,000 grant to expand its pretrial release program with 24/7 electronic monitoring.

Undersheriff Erroll McCrea summarized specialized units and recent enforcement activity, saying the county's violence reduction team (established October 2024) has executed 83 search warrants, made 51 arrests and seized 223 firearms. He also described community programs the office runs or supports: a Search and Rescue cadet program for youth (about 48 missions per year), Project Lifesaver (22 current participants; $375 initial cost and $75 quarterly fee), and Help Me Home (101 participants), which stores photographs and identifying information to assist responding officers.

The Sheriff's Remote Operating Vehicle Team — a multiagency drone unit — now operates about 25 drones among participating agencies and, Massey said, has improved officer safety and situational awareness on calls by allowing deputies to monitor from a distance.

Council reaction and local funding options: Councilor Michele McCall-Wallace and Council President Aaron Dumbrow expressed appreciation for the Sheriff's Office services and noted the city's prior decision to contract with the county for police. Reid told council the Budget Committee identified room in the second year of the biennium to fund an additional patrol officer but directed the council to find a sustainable revenue source. Reid explained filing deadlines tied to possible election dates: for a May 2026 election, filing would need to begin by February 2026 for revenue to start in November 2026; a November 2026 election would require filing by August 2026 with revenue delayed until 2027.

Council members discussed public engagement steps — town halls, neighborhood meetings and surveys — to determine what residents would support funding. Council President Dumbrow said he personally prefers a levy over a fee if the council moves forward, while other councilors emphasized the need for public outreach and education about how tax dollars fund city services.

Next steps: Council agreed to continue discussion at the next meeting, with staff to return with more analysis of funding scenarios and an outreach plan if the council chooses to pursue a local funding measure.