County commissioner measures split; voters favor cutting salaries to $75K

Image by Tumisu from Pixabay
May 21, 2024

Salary cut could be invalidated because another measure appears to have failed

By Damian Mann for Ashland.news

A Tuesday primary election ballot measure to cut Jackson County commissioners salaries to $75,000 received overwhelming support from voters, according to unofficial results at 8 p.m.

But two other ballot measures — one that would have made the commissioner position nonpartisan, another increasing the size of the board from three to five — appear to be rejected, according to the first round of ballot results released by the Jackson County Elections Office.

Measure 15-226, which effectively cuts commissioners base salaries by up to 50%, received 25,942 “yes” votes and 14,372 “no” votes, or 64.35% to 35.65% in the first round of results.

However, Measure 15-226 appears to depend on the passage of Measure 15-225, potentially rendering the salary cut invalid.

Measure 15-225, which sought to expand the county Board of Commissioners from three to five, received 21,735 “no” votes and 18,763 “yes” votes, or 53.67% opposing and 46.33% supporting.

Measure 15-224, which would have made the commissioner position nonpartisan, received 22,499 “no” votes and 17,980 “yes” votes, or 55.58% opposing and 44.42% supporting.

Commissioner Rick Dyer said that because of the way the measures were written the salary cut is “null and void.”

“Essentially all three measures failed,” he said.

He said the salary cut measure depends on Measure 15-225 passing.

The ballot measure that would reduce the pay states, “Five commissioners will receive equal pay, still nearly double the median pay of their constituents.”

“I don’t know why they connected the two,” he said. “Their campaign really focused on the salaries.”

Annual salaries for commissioners Colleen Roberts and Rick Dyer will be $150,009.60 on July 1.

A new commissioner would start out at an annual salary of $117,562.

A volunteer, grassroots effort known as Jackson County for All qualified three measures for the ballot.

Denise Krause, chief petitioner for the ballot effort, said it’s true that Measure 225 and Measure 226 are tied together.

She said the salary cut wasn’t intended to be a penalty but rather was part of an overall effort to bring more accountability to the Board of Commissioners.

Krause, who is the Democratic nominee for Jackson County Commissioner in Noqovember, said, “In my run for county commissioner, I’ve said already that I would take the lower salary on Day 1.”

Still, Krause said Jackson County for All isn’t ready to say the ballot measures failed until more votes are counted.

Even if the ballot measures don’t pass, Krause said Jackson County for All has shed a light on what the county expects of the Board of Commissioners.

“It’s brought a whole new level of transparency to the commission,” she said. “This is a wake-up call.

Reach freelance writer Damian Mann at [email protected].

Picture of Bert Etling

Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at [email protected].

Related Posts...

‘Do No Harm, Be a Good Neighbor’: Community event on immigration Monday

The Ashland Sunrise Project is hosting an opportunity for community members to learn about current immigration issues and how to be in solidarity with those potentially impacted by the changing political climate on immigration. The event, titled “How To Do No Harm and Be a Good Neighbor,” is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (RVUUF), 87 4th St., Ashland.

Read More »

Bill Thorndike Jr. remembered as community titan, treasured friend

Family, community members and longtime friends of Medford native Bill Thorndike Jr. were collectively at a loss for words over the weekend at the sudden loss of a man they say had a hand in nearly anything good to happen in Southern Oregon for much of the past half-century. Thorndike, 71, suffered a heart attack early Saturday morning, just following a Valentine’s Day spent with his wife, Angela Thorndike, at a family cabin on Whidbey Island in Washington’s Puget Sound.

Read More »

Presidents Day protest draws crowd to Ashland Plaza 

About 150 people rallied on Ashland Plaza on Monday, part of a series of nationwide protests on Presidents Day, most organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement,” in a response to what organizers describe as “the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration.”

Read More »

Our Sponsors

Klamath Bird Observatory Experience the wonders of Souteast Brazil Ashland Oregon
Conscious Design Build Ashland Oregon
Pronto Printing Ashland Medford Southern Oregon

Latest posts

‘Do No Harm, Be a Good Neighbor’: Community event on immigration Monday

The Ashland Sunrise Project is hosting an opportunity for community members to learn about current immigration issues and how to be in solidarity with those potentially impacted by the changing political climate on immigration. The event, titled “How To Do No Harm and Be a Good Neighbor,” is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (RVUUF), 87 4th St., Ashland.

Read More >

Obituary: Eliane Viner

Obituary: Eliane A. Mueller Trapp Viner, 86, died on Thursday, Dec. 19, 2024 — on her own terms and surrounded by loved ones — in Medford, Oregon, after three months of hospice care. A celebration of life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, March 1, in Ashland, Oregon, and online.

Read More >

Bill Thorndike Jr. remembered as community titan, treasured friend

Family, community members and longtime friends of Medford native Bill Thorndike Jr. were collectively at a loss for words over the weekend at the sudden loss of a man they say had a hand in nearly anything good to happen in Southern Oregon for much of the past half-century. Thorndike, 71, suffered a heart attack early Saturday morning, just following a Valentine’s Day spent with his wife, Angela Thorndike, at a family cabin on Whidbey Island in Washington’s Puget Sound.

Read More >

Presidents Day protest draws crowd to Ashland Plaza 

About 150 people rallied on Ashland Plaza on Monday, part of a series of nationwide protests on Presidents Day, most organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for “50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement,” in a response to what organizers describe as “the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration.”

Read More >

New nonprofit hopes to help write next chapter in Ashland’s story

It’s in the name: Cultural and economic revitalization of Ashland is at the heart of a three-year program proposed by a new nonprofit organization — the Ashland Cultural & Economic Alliance. Co-founders Matt Hoffman, Jim Fredericks and Lloyd Matthew Haines hosted a launch event attended by about 70 business, cultural and civic leaders Saturday evening in Meese Hall at Southern Oregon University to announce the formation of ACEA.

Read More >

Our Sponsors

City of Ashland Public Notice Ashland Oregon
Ashland Parks and Recreation Ashland Oregon
Ashland.news House Ad

Explore More...

The Ashland Sunrise Project is hosting an opportunity for community members to learn about current immigration issues and how to be in solidarity with those potentially impacted by the changing political climate on immigration. The event, titled “How To Do No Harm and Be a Good Neighbor,” is set for 6 to 7:30 p.m. Monday, Feb. 24, at Rogue Valley Unitarian Universalist Fellowship (RVUUF), 87 4th St., Ashland.
Two weeks after its first February meeting was canceled due to unsafe road conditions due to snow, the Ashland City Council takes up business Tuesday, Feb. 17, it had expected to handle on Feb. 4. Its Feb. 3 study session, however, which was also canceled, is still pending as Monday, Feb. 17, was Presidents Day.
Family, community members and longtime friends of Medford native Bill Thorndike Jr. were collectively at a loss for words over the weekend at the sudden loss of a man they say had a hand in nearly anything good to happen in Southern Oregon for much of the past half-century. Thorndike, 71, suffered a heart attack early Saturday morning, just following a Valentine’s Day spent with his wife, Angela Thorndike, at a family cabin on Whidbey Island in Washington’s Puget Sound.
About 150 people rallied on Ashland Plaza on Monday, part of a series of nationwide protests on Presidents Day, most organized by the 50501 Movement, which stands for "50 protests. 50 states. 1 movement," in a response to what organizers describe as "the anti-democratic and illegal actions of the Trump administration."
It’s in the name: Cultural and economic revitalization of Ashland is at the heart of a three-year program proposed by a new nonprofit organization — the Ashland Cultural & Economic Alliance. Co-founders Matt Hoffman, Jim Fredericks and Lloyd Matthew Haines hosted a launch event attended by about 70 business, cultural and civic leaders Saturday evening in Meese Hall at Southern Oregon University to announce the formation of ACEA.
ashland.news logo

Subscribe to the newsletter and get local news sent directly to your inbox.

(It’s free)

Don't Miss Our Top Stories

Get our newsletter delivered to your inbox three times a week.
It’s FREE and you can cancel anytime.