To the Editor,
Currently recall petitioners have gathered enough signatures to submit to the County Clerk. A special recall election could potentially remove 2 of the 3 court members. The following are facts voters should consider as they cast their ballots, the effects of which could be devastating and long lasting for our county.
If the recall is successful it will result in an emergency shut down of all county services, including furloughing all county employees. Elected Officials may choose to open their respective departments, but that would be on a strictly volunteer basis. A one-person court has no authority to make decisions, spend money or incur debt or obligations. This financial responsibility falls solely on the County Court with a quorum of members (at least 2). No other departments can appropriate payments.
If the recall happens before a budget for FY 2024-25 is passed, the Gilliam County’s ability to spend money or debt expires on June 30. The county’s ability to impose a property tax is also contingent on the budget process. The following is from Oregon Local Budgeting Manual: “Appropriations are limited to a single fiscal year or biennial budget period (ORS 294.311). The budget year or biennium ends on June 30 (every other June 30 for biennial budgets). That means all spending authority of a local government ends on that June 30. A local government does not have legal authority to spend or encumber money for the new fiscal year or biennium until the budget is adopted and appropriated. If expenditures are made without appropriation authority, the officials who allow or authorize such expenditures might be held personally responsible for the repayment of the money (ORS 294.100).” Gilliam County operates on a single fiscal year and no money will be able to be expended without an adopted budget.
Governor Tina Kotek will decide who will fill the Judge position for the remainder of the year and it is not known how long that process could take, also removing local control over who will fill that position temporarily. The transportation, senior and family services and meal sites serving many of our senior citizens will be suspended. Many other services and departments will be closed until we have a working government in place. I don’t know all the answers, and I hope I’m not faced with finding the answers. I urge to voters truly think of the ramifications of this recall before voting. If the recall does progress to a special recall election, I will be voting NO.
— Leah Watkins, Condon
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