Stop Measure 22-216
Lebanon taxpayers already pay $3.08 per $1,000 for the county jail as a result of the 2025 County Levy passed in Measure 22-212. Lebanon's proposed Measure 22-216 adds a wasteful $1.06 per $1,000 for a tiny 12-bed facility. Reopening the city jail is a redundant tax and there is no evidence that it will reduce crime or improve our safety. Let's vote for our property taxes to DECREASE for a change.
Reasons to Reject Measure 22-216
Tax Multiplication
You already pay for the Linn County regional jail. This measure asks for a second, separate tax so that Lebanon can have a mere 12 additional beds under it's exclusive control..
High Waste Risk
Raising $8.3M over five years for operational costs and staffing is inefficient and offers no proof of lower crime.
Property Taxes Won't Decrease If Passed
Voting No keeps new taxes away and allows the Justice Center tax to expire in 2026. Don't pay twice for one jail system. Let our taxes DECREASE for a change.
New City Fee After Voters Said No
Despite residents rejecting previous tax hikes, Lebanon bypassed the vote to add a city service fee, showing a clear pattern of finding ways to charge you more even when you say no.
Measure 22-216: Another Tax for a Jail We Already Have
Lebanon taxpayers already pay for a county jail. Linn County operates a large facility, and Lebanon property owners already pay the county law enforcement tax of $3.08 per $1,000 of assessed value to fund it.
If Measure 22-216 passes, Lebanon taxpayers would pay another $1.06 per $1,000 to operate a separate city jail. That's two separate property-tax-funded jail systems serving the same community.
We Have a More Efficient County System
The Linn County Jail serves the entire region with extensive capacity, while Lebanon's municipal jail is only 12 beds. The county facility has not regularly came close to reaching capacity and recently added 22 additional beds. Lebanon should continue using the county system taxpayers already fund.
This is an $8.3 Million Tax
Measure 22-216 would raise an estimated $8,292,051 over five years. At $1.06 per $1,000 of assessed value, a $242,000 property would cost approximately $297 per year. If we vote no property taxes decrease because the existing Justice Center tax is scheduled to expire in November 2026.
Reopening the Jail is Not Likely to Reduce Crime
The City's arguments about improved safety are projected benefits, not guaranteed results. Reopening requires permanent staffing and ongoing expenses for only 12 beds. A new $8.3 million tax should require more than assumptions.
The Bottom Line
- Lebanon residents already support a robust, growing regional jail via Linn County. This new city jail would provide only 12 additional beds at a massive cost of $8.3 million. Rejecting Measure 22-216 stops this double taxation. By voting No, Lebanon finally lets property taxes actually decrease for a change, giving some relief to families across the city who have been feeling squeezed by rising costs.
Why should we pay twice for a jail system when we already fund the county system?