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Municipal Elections
Notice of Proposed Ballot Title
Notice is hereby given that the City of St. Helens has received a Prospective Initiative Petition that complies with constitutional requirements. The City Elections Official referred the petition to the City Attorney to prepare a ballot title. Such ballot title has been received.
Caption: (10 words maximum)
Repeals Public Safety Fee, limits service fees on utility bills
Question: (20 words maximum)
Shall the City Code be amended to repeal Public Safety Fee and limit non-utility related fees on utility bills?
Summary: (175 words maximum)
Repeals Chapter 13.30, St. Helens Public Safety Fee, and limits future fees on utility bills unrelated to utility services.
In 2021, the City committed to a $12,685,000.00 bond obligation to finance the development of a Public Safety Facility. Chapter 13.30, St. Helens Public Safety Fee, authorizes a fee to be charged to utility customers to pay for a Public Safety Facility and other police operations. The current Public Safety Fee adopted by City Council is $10.30 per month per dwelling unit. 100% of the Public Safety Fee has been used to repay the bond financing for the new Public Safety Facility.
Voting YES repeals the Public Safety Fee, reduces the City budget by the projected amount collected by the Public Safety Fee, impacts City programs and services, and limits future fees charged on a utility bill if unrelated to utility services.
Voting NO retains the Public Safety Fee, prevents a budget reduction, generates revenue to repay bond financing, and allows future funding alternatives for desired services, such as police, library, parks, and recreation.
Any registered voter may file a petition for review of the ballot title with Columbia County Circuit Court. Such petition must be filed no later than 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 8, 2025. A registered voter who files a petition to review the ballot title is required to notify the City Elections Official in writing that a petition has been filed.
For copies of the ballot title or further information please contact City Elections Official Kathy Payne at kpayne@sthelensoregon.gov or (503) 366-8217.
Kathy Payne
City Elections Official
Publish in Columbia County Spotlight: July 4, 2025
Posted to City website: June 25, 2025
