Clark County voters won’t see Vancouver police or sheriff’s office funding measures on August ballot

Voters will not see multimillion-dollar law enforcement funding requests on the August primary ballot from the city of Vancouver or Clark County.

Vancouver Mayor Anne McEnerny-Ogle said Wednesday the city is not ready to put forward a funding request for dozens of new Vancouver police officers and support staff this summer — especially given Tuesday night’s special election results that saw all three funding measures for schools and a regional fire authority fail.

City officials intend to ask voters to reconsider funding police staffing, after Proposition 4, which would have added 80 officers and 36 nonsworn staff, failed in November. But, the mayor said an advisory task force is still studying what to include in the ask this time around.

She said city officials are also considering asking voters to approve fewer new staffers and less technology upfront and then going back to voters a few years later for the remainder of the funding request.

“We still need the new officers,” McEnerny-Ogle said.

City officials say they are wary of the current economy and residents’ appetites for assuming more tax burden. McEnerny-Ogle said officials will keep a close eye on the outcome of August’s election, which is so far slated to include a levy lid lift request from FVRLibraries, before committing to a November ballot measure.

“There’s too much uncertainty in this economy,” McEnerny-Ogle said. “We’re taking it slow and easy and going for the temperature of the community.”

City officials are also waiting to hear specifics about what Clark County intends to ask voters to fund, she said.

Clark County councilors on Wednesday again considered the revenue options they could pursue to fulfill Clark County Sheriff John Horch’s request for 90 additional deputies. In addition, dozens of other positions would be needed, criminal justice officials say, to support the work those deputies would create for the courts, prosecutor and public defense offices.

The council is also looking to fund a $471 million renovation and expansion at the Clark County Jail.

The councilors did not make any decisions Wednesday about what they intend to ask voters to fund or when. County Manager Kathleen Otto urged councilors to wait a few weeks to better understand the outcome of the state legislative session and how the county might use any new funding mechanisms legislators pass.

Both city and county officials said they need time before an election to get the message out to voters and educate them about the need behind the requests.

“There’s no rush for us to do anything for August, and I think that is a good move,” Otto said. “I think it allows us to continue to be more collaborative and intentional on what we’re doing and how we’re doing it.”