Local News

Voters in Grants Pass and Josephine County are deciding whether to support two measures that would fund local law enforcement in next Tuesday's election.

Grants Pass residents are voting on Measure 17-114, which is a five-year renewal of a $1.79 local option tax that has funded city police and fire services for over 10 years.

Josephine County residents are voting on Measure 17-115, which is a permanent taxing district to fund the Sheriff's Office at 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value. The City of Cave Junction is included. Grants Pass is not.

So far, voter turnout has been low for these important law enforcement issues. The Josephine County Clerk's Office reported late Thursday that the turnout was about 22.5%, with just over 22% of the ballots accepted.

Voters have until 8 p.m. Tuesday to place their postage-free ballots in the mail or to drop them off at designated drop-boxes throughout Josephine County.