The Clark County Council on Friday adopted a resolution warning that passage of Vancouver’s Proposition 4, which would raise property taxes to add 80 new police officers, will create more work for the rest of the criminal justice system without providing money to pay for it.
Vancouver’s measure appears on the Nov. 5 ballot. In addition to putting more police on the streets, Vancouver’s proposed levy lid lift would add up to 36 non-sworn positions, form a traffic enforcement camera program, expand the city’s Homeless Assistance and Resources Team (which has two officers) and upgrade equipment.
The measure would increase the city’s 2024 general fund property tax levy by about 41 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value for 2025. The levy collection would increase 5 percent a year for six years. The measure would raise about $15.5 million the first year and about $36 million by 2030, according to the city.
The county’s resolution states the number of judges, attorneys and other employees would need to increase in response to the added officers. The county covers the costs of adjudicating felony cases from all jurisdictions in the county. The county funds Superior, District and juvenile courts; the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office; the Public Defense Office; the Clerk’s Office; and the jail. The county estimates the levy would create a need for additional services that would increase annual costs by 13 percent, or $11.7 million in 2027.
