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Law Enforcement Levy
Proposed Measure 22-189: Four Year Local Option Law Enforcement Tax Levy
In November 2021, Linn County voters will have the opportunity to vote on a proposed four year local option levy measure which would cost $2.98 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
This proposed measure would replace the existing law enforcement levy, would begin in 2022, and last for four years. The proposed Linn County Law Enforcement Levy would continue funding for County public safety and law enforcement services if passed. These services include the Sheriff’s Office, District Attorney’s Office, and the Juvenile Department.
The current law enforcement levy is at the tax rate of $2.83 per $1,000 of assessed property value (this is different than the real market value “RMV”), and has been at that rate for almost eight years. If passed, the proposed levy would increase the rate to $2.98 per $1,000 of assessed property value. The monthly cost would be approximately $45.94, or $551.30 per year, on a home with an assessed value of $185,000 – an increase of $2.31 per month from the expiring levy rate.
This equates to 127 of 190 personnel funded by levy dollars.
Staff positions listed above represent how many are funded from levy support, out of the total number of positions in that Division of the Sheriff’s Office.
The Linn County Sheriff’s Office has a full staffing allocation of 190 positions. The law enforcement levy, making up 55.67% of the resources for the Sheriff’s Office, funds 127 of 190 positions within the Sheriff’s Office – or 67%.
For more than 38 years the Sheriff’s Office has relied upon the voters to approve a levy to operate the Sheriff’s Office and maintain services. In fiscal year 2021-2022, the law enforcement levy funding makes up $21.79M of all funding for the Sheriff’s Office, or roughly 55.67%.
Frequently Asked Questions
When does the current Law Enforcement Levy expire? When would the proposed levy go into effect?
The current levy, at a rate of $2.83 per $1,000 of assessed property value, was approved by voters in May, 2018. It went into effect July 1, 2018 and expires June 30, 2022.
The proposed levy would replace the existing levy, and if approved by the voters, go into effect on July 1, 2022 for four years, expiring June 30, 2026.
If the measure passes, how would it affect my property taxes?
The current law enforcement levy is at the tax rate of $2.83 per $1,000 of assessed property value (this is different than the real market value “RMV”). This tax rate was first approved by the voters of Linn County back in 2014 and has been at that rate for almost eight years. If passed, the proposed levy would increase the rate to $2.98 per $1,000 of assessed property value, an increase of $0.15 per $1,000.
For a home with an assessed property value of $185,000, the monthly cost would increase $2.31 per month from the expiring levy rate, or $27.75 per year.
How would the tax revenue be used for Law Enforcement in Linn County?
This levy maintains, and enhances, existing public safety services, with revenues funding operations of the Sheriff’s Office (76%), criminal prosecution at the District Attorney’s Office (10%), plus juvenile offender supervision and detention with the Linn County Juvenile Department (14%).
The proposed levy would provide funding for Linn County’s law enforcement services, and would maintain the following:
24-hours per day uniformed Patrol and criminal investigations operations;
Prosecution of major crimes, including homicides, as well as crimes against children, sexual assaults, and property and person crimes;
Victims’ assistance for all crime victims;
Juvenile programs reducing crime;
Operation of 230-bed Jail facility.
If passed, proposed measure 22-189 would:
Support continued operations of the 230-bed Linn County Jail facility, which was fully reopened when voters passed the law enforcement levy in 2014;
Provide funding to renovate and upgrade the female housing unit in the Jail, as well as the 9-1-1 Communications Center for Linn County
Increase the availability and capacity of digital forensic services and technology available to investigate and prosecute high-tech crimes
In partnership with mental health professionals, increase mental health crisis response capabilities and trained personnel, as well as connect those persons in crisis with mental health and medical assistance
Promote Emergency Preparedness initiatives county-wide related to wildfires, flooding and severe weather events through disaster planning, prevention and mitigation efforts
Continue the Sheriff’s Office involvement in an inter-agency drug enforcement team to arrest drug traffickers and those involved in serious drug-related crimes such as identity theft, property crimes, child abuse and child neglect
If the proposed measure 22-189 does not pass, the proposed services would not be provided and the tax rate would not change.
Is there a short informational guide to the Law Enforcement Levy to download?
