Sheriff asks for public safety support

Public safety is one of the core needs and single most important services that county government is obligated to deliver. When citizens dial 9-1-1, they have an expectation that a sheriff’s deputy is coming to their reported emergency and is coming now. It is my experience that most tax-paying citizens seldom use the services of their local public safety officers, but when they do, it’s for an immediate need.

As your sheriff, I am reaching out to you with what I hope is an informative topic and something for you to consider while reviewing the November ballot. The Board of County Commissioners authorized a ballot proposition to increase the sales and use tax in Lincoln County to help adequately fund public safety. This proposition, when approved, would increase the sales and use tax within Lincoln County by three- tenths of one percent, raising the rate from 7.7 to 8.0 percent, providing funds to help offset increasing costs associated with delivering essential public safety services for both the towns and county.

Lincoln County’s 7.7 percent sales and use tax is much lower than that of surrounding cities and counties. By comparison, the city of Airway Heights’ sales tax is 8.9 percent, and Spokane County’s is 8.7 percent. So when we purchase taxable items in Spokane County, we are helping fund their public safety. The need to approve this proposition for Lincoln County has never been so great. There is no choice but to reach out to the voter and ask for your help!

The sales and use tax proposition is supported by all eight town/city councils and mayors within Lincoln County to include Almira, Creston, Davenport, Harrington, Odessa, Reardan, Wilbur and Sprague. The support was memorialized by town resolutions from each council in the county. The Board of County Commissioners and I felt this topic was so important that we visited each town council meeting this past summer and explained in detail the county’s budgetary shortfalls. These shortfalls have resulted in the loss of five sheriff’s deputies, three within the last two years, as well as other full time employees in the courthouse, and significant line item reductions.

Many of our rural towns are facing financial challenges of their own and public safety shortfalls remain a major concern. The level of service by the Sheriff’s Office has declined in the past few years, as sheriff’s deputies find themselves being reactive instead of proactive, simply because we do not have enough staff to be as effective as we could be when fully staffed. Calls for service continue, but we have fewer deputies to respond to the crimes, investigate and aggressively follow up on open cases to bring them to a successful conclusion. We simply can’t keep up! Deputies are forced to prioritize calls.

Due to low staffing levels, the number of hours deputies can be on duty within a 24-hour period has become less and less, with substantial holes in the schedule leaving way too many hours with no coverage or minimum coverage in a county that covers almost 2,400 square miles. This is not acceptable and not fair to those we serve. The public’s safety and officer safety are way too important. Deputies responding to calls are left with backup miles away in many cases or no backup at all.

As your sheriff, I ask for your help and consideration in approving the public safety sales and use tax proposition when you vote in the next few weeks. We are significantly understaffed and dedicated funding must change in order for levels of service to continue at acceptable levels. This proposition is extremely important for our county’s safety and security and is one way for you to help me help you. It’s important to shop locally when we can, which not only supports our local businesses and families but helps support the services we all depend on. Small counties like Lincoln County have been significantly impacted by state regulations and initiatives that larger counties can sustain, because of their much larger business districts, work force and related revenue streams that smaller counties simply don’t have.

In closing, please know that we will do our very best to provide the highest level of professionalism and service that we can possibly provide, but we need your help to keep Lincoln County the safest and best place to live in the country. Public safety needs your help, and I ask that you approve Lincoln County Public Safety Sales and Use Tax Proposition No. 1 in the upcoming election.