GPCC Approves Supplemental Budget and Created Non-Union Salary Task Force

The Grants Pass City Council last night balanced the current budget, established a new task force and appointed two people to the Committee on Public Art. The City Council opened its regular meeting with a public hearing on a resolution supplementing the Fiscal Year 2025 budget and making appropriations. Finance Director JC Rowley said some small "normal" adjustments were made to the General Fund, Transportation Fund, Stormwater Fund, Water Fund, Water Projects Fund, Wastewater Fund, Solid Waste Fund, Administrative Services Fund, Environmental Waste Fees Fund and Lands & Buildings Projects Fund. The Council approved the supplemental budget unanimously. They will consider the Fiscal Year 2026 budget on June 18th. By Oregon Statute, the City must have a balanced budget in place before July 1st. The Council also approved a resolution that establishes a Non-Bargaining Compensation and Classification Task Force. The new task force will be charged with studying potential salary adjustments for the City's non-union employees and making recommendations. Councilors Rick Ryker and Seth Benham will serve on the task force along with two members of the Grants Pass Budget Committee, two members at-large with experience in large payrolls and McGrath Consulting. Following multiple votes by the City Council, Cindy Hernandez and Eva Shaw were appointed to the Grants Pass Committee on Public Art. ...Read more

GP Friends of the Library Launches "Eviction Watch" Prompted by Frustration and Fear

Frustrated by the Josephine County Commissioners' perceived lack of action after the termination of the Grants Pass branch library lease in January and afraid the termination could lead to eviction, Grants Pass Friends of the Library is launching an "Eviction Watch" campaign. The campaign will begin with a countdown clock website today, which marks 30 weeks until the end of the library's current lease agreement on December 31st. The Eviction Watch website has gone "live" at "grantspassfol.wixsite.com/gpfol." On January 6th, the Board of Commissioners voted to terminate the Grants Pass library lease with 30 days' notice and no prior consultation with the Josephine Community Library District. The Board did not provide an explanation, indicate what it wanted, offer any lease terms, name a proposed rental rate or send a termination notice. Despite this lack of communication, the library district responded with flexibility and transparency -- offering multiple meeting dates and submitting a formal lease renewal proposal on March 25th and May 5th. Five months after the lease was canceled, the Grants Pass Library remains in limbo while waiting for the County to act. ...Read more

RCC Music Program Presents Free Concerts Celebrating Broadway and Film in GP

The Rogue Community College Music Department invites the community to enjoy two exciting evenings of "live" music next week at the Rogue Auditorium on RCC's Redwood Campus in Grants Pass. Admission is free -- donations to support the RCC Music Department are welcome. On Monday at 7 p.m., there will be a heartfelt tribute to Broadway featuring the Rogue Chorus, directed by Chiharu Sai, with special guests The Rogue Singers, Teresa Northcross on the cello and the Passionflutes Trio. Audiences can expect a lively, feel-good program celebrating iconic Broadway hits. On Tuesday at 7 p.m., the RCC Concert Band -- directed by Jon Bennett -- will perform a cinematic selection of music including Hollywood Milestones, At The Movies with John Williams, Alan Silvestri: Night at the Movies, March with Mancini, Disney at the Movies and more. This concert is a must-see for movie and music lovers alike. Both concerts will take place at the Rogue Auditorium on the RCC Redwood Campus at 3345 Redwood Highway in Grants Pass. For the closest parking, use the college's East Entrance off Redwood Highway to Demaray Drive. ...Read more