To the Editor and Gilliam County Voters,
As I wrote last week, I’m proud of the progress we’ve made together over the last five years; investing more than $1 million to support small businesses, jumpstarting housing development, creating a permanent endowment to provide childcare access for all families, laying the groundwork to bring affordable, reliable, high-speed internet to every home in Gilliam County, and so much more.
The choice before you is to continue this progress or to plunge Gilliam County into crisis.
Oregon Law requires the County Court to have a budget in place by July 1, 2024. It takes 3-4 months to write and pass our budget, and we are right in the middle of that process. If Commissioner Shannon and I are recalled, the County Court can no longer perform its functions and will not be able to pass a budget by the deadline.
What will this mean?
By law, it will mean a layoff of ALL Gilliam County employees. It will mean a shuttered transportation system, senior meal site, and public library. It will mean no law enforcement to respond to your call, no roads paved or weeds sprayed, and no summer work experience for our youth.
All to remove me from office 8 months early.
You don’t need to take my word for it. In last week’s edition, Arlington Mayor Jeff Bufton urged the County Court to pass an emergency budget to prevent a shutdown from occurring. If this recall has no impact on the County’s budget, services, and jobs, then why does he suggest an emergency budget at all? Why does an anonymous letter writer insist a new County Court could easily write and pass the budget to avoid a government shutdown, but also slam me for not writing the budget fast enough?
Ironically, they have even gone so far as suggesting the County Court quickly pass a budget that carries forward current spending levels then allow the appointed County Court to fix it at a later date through the Supplemental Budget process. This approach would eliminate input on substantial changes from the three public members of the Budget Committee and leave $82 million worth of decisions to two County Court members who were appointed by Governor Kotek, not elected by the people of Gilliam County.
The truth is the recall petitioners did not even consider the very real consequences the recall election would have on you, the people of Gilliam County. They chose to put their own personal vendettas ahead of the jobs, services, and funding our communities depend on. And now they are scrambling to shift the blame for the crisis of their own making.
There is an easy way to avoid all of this. Please vote “no” on this divisive and reckless recall and retain our vital jobs, services, and funding.
Sincerely,
Elizabeth Farrar Campbell
Gilliam County Judge Condon, Oregon
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