Save Our Jail – Keep Columbia County Safe
Vote YES on Measure 5-304 by May 20!
No New Taxes. Just Safety.
What’s At Stake?
The Columbia County Jail is the backbone of public safety in our community. Without it, law enforcement will be unable to keep most criminals off our streets. If voters do not renew the Jail Levy in May, we’ll be forced into a dangerous “book-and-release” system — with most offenders going free right after arrest.
That’s not just a bad idea. It’s a threat to every neighborhood in Columbia County. We cannot let this happen.
What Is Measure 5-304?
It’s a renewal, NOT a tax increase.
First approved in 2014, and renewed by voters in 2017 and 2020.
Funds about 60% of our local jail operations, including deputies, medical care, food, and transport.
Keeps about 100 local jail beds available — instead of only 25–30 for local inmates without the levy.
The Sheriff’s Office has responsibly managed these funds for over a decade, with zero increases from taxpayers or Columbia County. We listened to the voters’ clear call for no new taxes and have already made painful cuts to keep the jail open with this renewal.
Why Do We Still Need a Levy?
Costs have gone up — medical, food, and staffing expenses have all risen sharply. Renewing the Jail Levy is now absolutely necessary to maintain safety for our citizens.
We’ve already done everything possible to keep the jail running:
Renting beds to the U.S. Marshals Service
Cutting spending where we can
Holding the line on taxes for over a decade
But now, without voter renewal, we’ll be forced to:
Lay off deputies
Release most offenders immediately
Close most or all of the jail
That means no consequences for crime in Columbia County.
Columbia County becomes a "catch and release" zone
Sheriff’s Office loses patrol deputies while they transport inmates out-of-county
Cities like St. Helens, Scappoose, Rainier, and Vernonia won’t have jail access
No space for repeat offenders, DUI arrests, or domestic violence cases
Failure to renew the Jail Levy will have a cascading impact:
Trusted. Transparent. Accountable.
Sheriff Brian Pixley and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office have:
Kept all levy funds accountable through public audits
Prioritized safety while finding creative ways to save money
Never misused jail levy funds — all have gone directly to operations
Trusted, Transparent, Accountable
Sheriff Brian Pixley and the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office have:
Kept all levy funds accountable through public audits
Prioritized safety while finding creative ways to save money
Never misused jail levy funds — all have gone directly to operations
Vote YES on Measure
5-304 by May 20!
Ballots are due before 8 PM on Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Watch your mailbox for your ballot!
Vote YES on Measure
5-304 by May 21!
Ballots are due Tuesday, May 20, 2025. Watch your mailbox for your ballot!
Join the Campaign
Want a yard sign? Are you able to donate? Will you help spread the word?