Vote
NO ON 5-310
Measure 5-310 proposes a new property tax levy in Columbia County, Oregon. If approved, it would generate over $10 million in additional property taxes for the 9-1-1 Communications District—an agency that already receives state funding and a permanent property tax rate.
The measure also acknowledges that it may increase your property taxes by more than 3%.
Revenue from this levy would not go to law enforcement agencies or fire departments. Instead, it would provide additional funding exclusively to the dispatch center.
Protect your wallet and your property from unnecessary taxation.
Vote "No" on Measure 5-310.
Background
The Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District is a “special district” that operates independently from county and city governments, as well as from local law enforcement and fire agencies. Elected county commissioners and city council members have no authority over this district.
As a separate agency, it adds administrative complexity and additional costs for taxpayers. Notably, only a small number (three) of 9-1-1 centers in Oregon operate as independent special districts, while most are managed by cities or counties, which saves money.
The Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District structure raises concerns about efficiency, accountability, and cost-effectiveness to taxpayers.
It's time for change. That change starts with voting "No" on Measure 5-310.
The Facts
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the measure has failed twice
Voters Have Spoken. Columbia County voters have already rejected similar levy proposals twice—once in May 2024 and again in November 2024. The rate and underlying issues remain unchanged.
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new tax
The taxes Measure 5-310 proposes were not included on previous two property tax bills. It represents an additional tax on top of the existing permanent tax rate already collected by the 9-1-1 District. For some property owners, this could mean an increase of more than 3%. The 9-1-1 District also receives funding from the State of Oregon.
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bipartisan opposition
Both the Columbia County Democratic and Republican Central Committees have unanimously opposed Measure 5-310. Both parties encourage you to vote "No" on Measure 5-310.
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Millions of dollars in reserves
The 9-1-1 District has transferred significant funds into reserve accounts—at times exceeding $5 million, and currently over $3.7 million. This suggests the district already holds substantial financial reserves beyond immediate operational needs.
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COLUMBIA COUNTY TAXPAYERS FOOTING THE BILL
Columbia County taxpayers are footing the bill for Clatsop and Multnomah County property owners who own property inside the 9-1-1 District, but outside Columbia County. Several properties inside the 9-1-1 District are within Clatsop and Multnomah County, but those property owners aren't paying. Only Columbia County taxpayers are, causing the tax rate to be higher on Columbia County taxpayers. This equals an estimated combined $200,000 to $300,000 per year of additional taxes on Columbia County property owners/taxpayers.
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LACK OF CONFIDENCE. LACK OF TRUST. fractured support
When the 9-1-1 District Board voted to refer the levy to voters, it did not receive unanimous support. Serious concerns were raised about financial management, a pattern of wasting of public funds and lack of action to maintain critical systems. Additionally, many elected officials across Columbia County, to include city councilors and county commissioners, declined to endorse the measure.
Law enforcement agency labor unions, including the Columbia County Deputy Sheriff's Association also declined to "endorse" Measure 5-310.
Millions of dollars wasted | Critical systems not maintained; jeopardizing public safety | Millions of dollars in reserves
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details about funding are missing
The district has not explained how levy funds would be allocated or provided detailed justification for the requested tax rate.
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required audits NOT COMPLETED
Annual unannounced audits required under Oregon law and existing agreements have not been conducted, raising transparency and concerns around legal, proper use of public funds.
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COSTLY violations of public meeting law
There have been ongoing issues with properly noticing public meetings and maintaining required records, limiting public participation and oversight.
The 9-1-1 Board of Directors was found "guilty" of violating a community member's First Amendment rights by trying to ban their attendance to public meetings. During the litigation, it was found that the 9-1-1 District, for years, also failed to take required meeting minutes of their executive session meetings. The First Amendment lawsuit resulted in a judge ordering the 9-1-1 District to pay hundreds of thousands of dollars to the plaintiff.
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COSTLY violations of public records law
Oregon public records law requires public entities to be open and transparent, and provide non-exempt records to the public when a public records request is received. The response must be timely and not priced to cause a "Constructive Denial", meaning the entity may not charge such a high price for producing the public records that the public cannot afford to obtain the records. In one case, regarding a proposal to spend approximately $30 million in taxpayer/public fund dollars, a public records request was submitted to try to understand the competitive bidding process and other details of the proposed purchase. The 9-1-1 District attempted to charge the community member over $100,000 for the records. This was the 9-1-1 District's attempt to not release the requested public records. In other instances, the Columbia County District Attorney had to order the 9-1-1 District to release records and also called the District's behavior a "Constructive Denial". A Columbia County Circuit Court judge also ordered the 9-1-1 District to pay $20,000 in attorney fee reimbursements to a plaintiff who took the denial to court. The 9-1-1 District does not want you to know how your tax dollars are being spent, then spends hundreds of thousands of tax dollars and other resources trying to defend their illegal actions.
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ATTORNEY AND BOARD MEMBERS UNDER INVESTIGATION
The Oregon Secretary of State Elections Division has opened an investigation into the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District for using taxpayer resources to promote political activities (ORS 260.432). Simply put, a public entity cannot use taxpayer funds to promote a levy/partake in political activity. The Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) has also opened multiple cases concerning some current and past board members of the 9-1-1 District, related to ethics concerns and financial conflicts of interest. As of April 9, 2026, State investigators are still working on the cases.
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Examples of TAXPAYER MONEY waste
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The 9-1-1 District gifted thousands of dollars in taxpayer funds to retiring employees. This was in addition to the employee's regular retirement benefits (e.g., PERS) and was not included in any employment agreement or as standard benefits for the position. Nepotism.
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In addition to multiple lawsuits from the public concerning failure to follow laws outlined in ORS Chapter 403 and ORS Chapter 279 for competitive procurements, over $300,000 was paid as part of a "settlement" to a previous employee who claimed Civil Rights violations and retaliation. This was the first of two recent Civil Rights lawsuits against the 9-1-1 District resulting in large payouts.
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Wasted $66,720 in public funds: On May 13, 2011, the C911CD wrote a $66,720.00 check to Day Wireless for a computer solution that first responders needed. If installed, the solution automatically switches between the best data signal. Despite numerous requests for the C911CD to get the project done, the project was not completed and $66,720.00 in public funds went wasted. Several years later, the C911CD purchased the licenses again at a higher cost.
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Wasted $300,000 in public funds: From 2012 through 2016, the C911CD paid a professional consultant/engineer to evaluate the public safety radio system and make recommendations to correct coverage and other problems with the system. This came after outcry from the public safety agencies in our county who depend on the radio system every day for their operations and safety. After spending about $300,000 on the consultant, the C911CD implemented 1 or 2 of over 12 critical recommendations. 13 years later, the problems jeopardizing the safety of first responders and the public are not fixed and have only gotten much worse.
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Gifted $778 in public funds: On July 17, 2019, ordered a new “11” iPad Pro” from CDWG in the amount of $778 (public funds) and gifted it to a C911CD Board Member who was “retiring” from the Board of Directors. Gifting public funds is against Oregon law.
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Wasted about $450,000 in public funds: After recommendation by the consultant/engineer to add a radio site for the public safety radio system off Pisgah Home Road to address public safety radio system coverage deficiencies, the C911CD leased land from Weyerhaeuser for the radio site. The C911CD spent nearly $450,000 clearing the site, running power and installing a gate and fencing. 10 years later, the site was never completed, and the fenced-in area is filled thick with invasive Scotch broom. The C911CD continues to pay Weyerhaeuser $4,000+ per year for the lease and the first responders still don’t have the radio coverage they were supposed to get 10 years ago for this critical radio site location.
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Wasted $925,000 in public funds: On August 25, 2022, the C911CD Board of Directors approved replacing the backhaul radio system that connects the public safety radio system sites together on the backend. The C911CD failed to engage in a competitive “Request for Proposal” (RFP) process and instead paid about $208,000 per link, buying off an old contract. An experienced taxpayer obtained competitive quotes to see what the savings could have been using a competitive process. The quotes received evidenced a cost of $105,116.27 per link. When 9 links are considered, that equals waste of about $925,954.00 in public funds due to failure to use an RFP.
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Wasted $245,000 in public funds: On March 4, 2021, the C911CD signed an agreement with Federal Engineering. Federal Engineering is another consulting and engineering firm. After spending about $245,000, the C911CD again did nothing to fix the radio system issues. The engineering showed the current radio system’s coverage is absent from Scappoose Schools, something the Scappoose Police Chief has expressed serious concern with multiple times over the last 3+ years. There has been no notable effort to correct the coverage issues in Scappoose or anywhere else in the county.
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Wasted $88,000 in public funds: In August 2024, the C911CD retained Coastline Public Relations (“Coastline PR”) to try to help them get their Option Levy passed during the November 2024 election. The C911CD spent $88,000 in public funds over the course of just a few months using Coastline PR instead of doing a grassroots campaign with board members and volunteers as the messengers. ORS 260.432 prohibits the use of public funds for political advocacy.
Just these 9 examples = over $2 MILLION DOLLARS in wasted public funds.
For at least the last 12-years, the C911CD has made no effort to apply for any grants to improve the radio system or fund any other major project.
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admin position Wage transparency
Per the 9-1-1 District's 2025/2026 Adopted Budget Document.
Executive Director: $134,640
Chief Finance Officer: $110,050
Operations Manager: $125,672
Technical Manager: $117,877
Office Support Specialist: $78,462
CAD Specialist: $105,407
Training and Certification Specialist: $99,076
Technology and Facilities Specialist: $99,755
Above: two pictures depict over $450,000 in waste of taxpayer money. In 2016, the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District leased this land and ran power to the radio site engineers said would greatly improve radio system coverage for first responders throughout south Columbia County. The District spent over $450,000 and continues to pay for a multiyear lease on the ground. Almost 10-years later, radio coverage for first responders has degraded more, and the radio site remains abandoned. The 9-1-1 District has had millions of dollars in reserve accounts to finish this radio site, for years, but has failed to do so without any public conversation as to why.
Above: a picture shows neglect of critical emergency radio communications components that first responders and the public rely on daily. For years, equipment under ownership and responsibility of the Columbia 9-1-1 Communications District went without industry-standard maintenance and proper installation. Our community safety and our lives rely on this equipment shown above to dispatch first responders. The pictures show cobwebs, and dirt on this equipment and even water damage. Rodents had also chewed on wires - all known for years by 9-1-1 District management and the Board of Directors. This neglect occurred while the 9-1-1 District had millions of taxpayer dollars in "radio system reserve" funds to care for this equipment.
A BETTER PATH FORWARD
THE BOTTOM LINE
We need and support 9-1-1 services — but believe there are more effective ways to deliver 9-1-1 dispatch. Taxpayers are financially tapped out. Most 9-1-1 centers in Oregon are operated by cities or counties, allowing for:
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Shared administrative resources
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Reduced overhead costs
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Improved coordination with public safety agencies
Consolidating services under an existing government structure (such as a city or the county government), would reduce costly duplication and improve efficiency, while improving service quality.
Columbia County taxpayers are already facing financial pressures. Before approving a new tax levy, it is reasonable to expect:
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Clear financial transparency
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Clear demonstrated need of additional funding
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Improved, strong oversight and accountability
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Exploration of cost saving alternatives, such as placing 9-1-1 dispatch under a city or Columbia County government vs. a separate special district, as it is now.
Measure 5-310 raises important questions that remain unanswered. Voters and Taxpayers deserve answers before anymore taxes.
Vote "No" on Measure 5-310.