Vancouver resident Debra Kalz shares her views of Vancouver Proposition 4

Editor’s note: Opinions expressed in this letter to the editor are those of the author alone and do not reflect the editorial position of ClarkCountyToday.com

Proposition 4 is going to increase property taxes 25% over the next five years. I’m highly urging voters to say no to this proposition, even though on face value it seems absolutely necessary. Albeit, it is necessary to increase our policing in Vancouver. I wholeheartedly support the police, but without courts that work on their end, it will be ineffective. Additionally, this will increase the burden on persons already struggling with housing and being able to stay in their homes.

Clark County has the lowest per capita police staff in Washington state and the state has the lowest per capita in the country. It hasn’t helped that the governmental office of our cities did not support the police image during the riots and defund the police movement. Additionally, when our courts will not prosecute and jail offenders’, then arresting and citing criminals is a waste in policing activities.
We also pay taxes through our sewer, water bill and waste management to support the police. They also put us on notice that the police would not be coming out to certain calls.

Looking at key factors makes me think this proposition is over the top. Currently the city of Vancouver has 15 vacant budgeted positions. They have been unable to fill these positions for a number of reasons. Retention has been difficult. Retirement, stress and trainees not wanting to be allocated to support Portland in riots.

Read https://www.cityofvancouver.us/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/WS_VPD_Funding_Recommendation_2024.pdf for more information. They are also looking to increase taxes via levy’s through 2028.

There was no formulary data used to arrive at the decision of 80 officers and personnel other than the committee met six times.

Read https://scholarworks.alaska.edu/bitstream/handle/11122/8083/ajf.342c.police-and-crime-rates.pdf on determining police ratio to per capita.

The HART team is supported by two of the city of Vancouver police officers, yet they are paid for out of the city budget and not the police budget. Additionally, when asked about reporting efficacies of interactions with homeless people, they do not do any reporting. Hence, how can we know the effectiveness of the program against dollars spent? Where in this world do you and I spend money without any accountability. We call that balancing a checkbook.

HART is staffed by six full-time employees from the City Manager’s Office, Vancouver Police Department, Public Works Department, and City Attorney’s Office.

As it is written, I cannot support this proposition.

Debra Kalz
Vancouver

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