A new five-year levy will retain and fund 13 new fire and
9 new police positions to enhance emergency response and community safety.
Citing the growing need and demand for additional fire and police
protection, the City Council voted unanimously to refer a new five-year
operating levy to Gresham voters for the May 21 election. The proposed
five-year levy will retain an average of 30 existing public safety positions
per year and fund 13 new firefighter positions and 9 new police officer
positions.
“Gresham has too few firefighters and police officers for a city our size
while calls for service are increasing. This means slower response times and
fewer neighborhood patrols,” said Gresham Mayor Travis Stovall. “In an
emergency, every second counts. This levy is needed to improve public safety in
our community.”
Since 2004, Gresham’s population has increased 19% but in twenty years the
city has one less sworn police officer and daily minimum firefighter staffing
has increased just 9%.
Over the same time, calls for fire service have increased 69% and shootings
in Gresham have spiked 400% in recent years. The combination of rising need and
fewer personnel means slower emergency response times and fewer patrol officers
to prevent crimes.
The levy would be $1.35/$1,000 assessed value beginning July 1, 2024 and the
average cost on a Gresham home would be $25.65 per month (based on an average
assessed, not market, value of $228,000).
Gresham residents currently pay a $15 per month fee on utility bills to fund
fire, police and park services. The fee is just 9% of the total city public
safety budget. A new levy is estimated to raise $64 million over five years and
will not replace the current fee. Levy spending will be overseen by an
independent seven-member citizen committee and will be subject to annual
audits.
“The current public safety fee is essential to maintain but it will not
enhance fire and police services. A new dedicated levy is needed to hire more
of the Gresham heroes we all turn to in a crisis. A levy will allow more
neighborhood patrols to address everything from drug-related crimes to property
crimes and gun violence,” said Mayor Stovall.