Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Police Levy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
St. Helens council sends $0.46-per-$1,000 police levy to voters after debate on staffing and conflicts
Summary
Council voted to place a five-year local option levy of $0.46 per $1,000 assessed value before voters to stabilize current police staffing. Public commenters raised concerns about conflicts of interest, loan repayments, and transparency; the police chief warned that a failed levy would force staffing reductions.
The St. Helens City Council voted July 21 to submit a five-year local option levy to city voters at a rate of $0.46 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund police services and stabilize current staffing levels.
Mayor announced the measure (Resolution 2087) and clarified earlier remarks, saying "there is no additional staff" included in the levy proposal and that the measure is intended to "stabilize" current services so the city can maintain 24/7 coverage. Council discussion and staff presentations emphasized growing calls for service and child-abuse referrals: the mayor cited a 15% increase in total calls for service since 2023 and a roughly 60% increase in Department of Human Services child-abuse referrals from 2021 to 2025 (figures described as the mayor's best approximation from police reports).
Public commenters questioned the lawfulness of the mayor's participation after declaring a conflict and asked for clarity about how a prior transfer of community development funds would be repaid if the levy failed. Steve Koski told the council he believed "the mayor has an actual conflict of interest" and urged rejection of the levy; Brady and others pressed how the city would repay previously moved reserves if voter funding failed. The interim city administrator and finance staff clarified that a bridge transfer from the community development fund to the general fund was a transfer of reserves, not a loan.
Police Chief, who said he serves as the city's Internet Crimes Against Children liaison, explained the investigative process and the staffing impacts: "If this levy fails, we'll have to reduce staffing significantly," he said, adding that current recruits had completed field training and that planned detective and school resource officer assignments would be jeopardized without voter approval. After discussion the motion to adopt Resolution 2087 passed with all present voting aye.
The council recorded a unanimous vote to place the levy on the ballot; final ballot scheduling and voter materials will follow standard election timelines and will be provided to the public through upcoming council packets.
