Commission Approves Library Annexations and Budgets following 5 Public Hearings

The Josephine County Board of Commissioners approved two library annexation requests and four budgets following five public hearings on Wednesday. The Board opened the public meeting by approving annexations to the Josephine Community Library for properties on Riverbanks Road and Cienega Lane. The annexations increased the size of the library district by more than 13 acres. After public testimony and Board deliberations, the Commissioners unanimously adopted an approximately $182 million budget for the 2025-26 Fiscal Year. Next year's spending plan includes 435.87 full-time equivalent employees with a tax rate of about $1.63 per thousand dollars of assessed value. Commissioner Ron Smith first made a motion to approve the budget and tax rate with amendments to eliminate 12% cuts to most departments and to give Sheriff Dave Daniel all the money he requested. It died for lack of a second. Vice-Chair Chris Barnett then made a motion to approve the budget and tax rate with changes that included reducing the 12% cuts to 5%, excluding the Sheriff's Office, District Attorney, Community Justice, Veterans Services and Property Reserve from the cuts. Smith seconded that motion, which was approved unanimously. The Board also unanimously approved a $1.6 million budget for the Rural Fire Protection District and a $5.79 million budget for the Law Enforcement Service District. The 4-H Extension Service District was approved by a 2-1 vote, with Board Chair Andreas Blech dissenting. ...Read more

GP City Council Approved Annual Budget and Created New Homeless Grant Program

A Homeless Grant Program and the 2025-26 fiscal budget were both passed by the Grants Pass City Council during its Wednesday night business meeting. The City Council adopted a resolution creating a Homeless Grant Program that will award funds -- up to $1.2 million -- to support capital expenses for one or more programs that would provide a managed, low-barrier shelter for up to 150 unhoused people. The successful applicant will be required to provide regular reports to demonstrate effectiveness of the program during the grant period. The City of Grants Pass currently spends a little over $371,000 annually to maintain designated resting sites. Spending at that level for three years was the basis for the $1.2 million grant amount. The City Council also approved the fiscal year 2025-26 budget at a level of almost $240 million. The permanent rate per $1,000 is just over $4.13 plus the local option levy for public safety at $1.79 per thousand for a total of about $5.92. The vote to approve was 6-2, with Indra Nicholas and Joel King dissenting. The Council also voted to receive state shared revenues in the amount of $513,000. ...Read more

Local Library Director Named "Community Woman of the Year" by GP Zonta Club

Josephine Community Library Director Kate Lasky was named Community Woman of the Year by the Zonta Club of Grants Pass during the organization's recent annual awards dinner held at Black Bear Diner. The award recognizes Lasky's long-standing leadership and contributions to public service, literacy and community development. Lasky has served as Library Director since 2009, helping transition the library system from a volunteer-run nonprofit to a publicly funded special district. Under her leadership, the library district has maintained its four branch structure while expanding hours, services and professional staffing to meet the growing needs of the community. In addition to leading the library, Lasky serves on the Grants Pass & Josephine County Chamber of Commerce board and was chair in 2024. She co-chairs the Oregon Library Association's legislative committee, previously served as OLA president, and held board roles with Oregon Humanities and Asante Health. She was recently named Oregon Librarian of the Year for 2025. ...Read more