Looking at the facts and not the scare tactics, measure 24-292 will provide better representation, more accountability, less partisanship and save taxpayers money.

24-292 does not change the way the county operates. It keeps the current county-manager form of government. The change is electing by district, five non-partisan commissioners, and moving the treasurer's functions into the county administrator's department. These changes are no different than how several Oregon counties and most cities in Marion County currently operate.

The duties and responsibilities of the commissioners are very similar to those of the many volunteer city councilors in Marion County. Yet each commissioner, paid $100,000 salary/benefits each, employs an expensive personal policy advisor ($100,000 salary/benefits) to communicate with the other commissioners prior to decision-making because they cannot have a one-on-one conversation without violating the Public Meetings Law. In essence, we have 3 elected decision-makers and 3 appointed decision-makers. The charter would change that to 5 elected, accountable decision-makers.

The charter gives voters more representation while making communication more efficient, less costly. The commissioners would no longer need these three expensive personal advisors, thus saving over $300,000 in salary and benefits to provide for the additional 2 commissioners.

Similar to five other home rule charter counties and all cities, the charter eliminates the elected treasurer position, allowing those functions to be handled by the County's finance director.

The proposed charter was reviewed by the County Counsel, who the commissioners rely upon for legal advice. County Counsel determined the charter language meets Oregon constitutional requirements.

Contrary to opponents' claims, the charter does not take away the right of citizens to talk with any of the five commissioners.

What the Home Rule Charter does is provide voters with a more direct means of holding their elected officials accountable. The rural areas of the county will have more influence in electing their commissioner.