The Josephine County Law Enforcement District appears to have been approved by voters by a narrow margin of just 300 votes.
According to the Josephine County Clerk's Office on Friday afternoon, Measure 17-115 was passing by a 51% to 49% tally.
Josephine County Clerk Rhiannon Henkels said the latest count showed 7,608 voters saying "yes" to the local law enforcement district and 7,308 voters saying "no." She said the next update will be posted by 5 p.m. November 29th and the certified results will be released no later than Monday, December 4th, at 5 p.m..
Measure 17-115 sets a permanent property tax rate of 99 cents per thousand dollars of assessed value. That amounts to $99 for every $100,000 of assessed value. The new district will allow the Sheriff's Office to maintain the full-time equivalent of 20 deputies, 6.25 dispatchers and 1.5 evidence or property technicians.
Meanwhile, Grants Pass voters overwhelmingly approved a five-year renewal of the $1.79 option levy that helps fund police and fire services. The tally on Friday was 78.2% yes and 21.8% no.
Grants Pass residents are not included in the law enforcement district, but Cave Junction residents are as they have a service contract with the Sheriff's Office.
The unofficial turnout as of Friday afternoon was 34.7%, with just over 34% of the ballots accepted.
