Election Day Approaching for Tigard

Did you know Election Day is on May 21, 2024? It’s easy to vote in Oregon!

You can register to vote, check to see if you’re registered, or update your registration all online. Just visit sos.oregon.gov/voting. 

You’ll need to be registered by April 30, 2024 to vote in the May 2024 election. Ballots will be mailed on May 1 and you can return your ballot by mail or in any of the ballot drop-boxes in the State of Oregon. 

There are two City of Tigard measures on this ballot that could impact both public safety in Tigard and Tigard’s government. 

The first measure is a proposed Public Safety Renewal Levy. When the Public Safety Levy was first passed by voters in 2020, it increased police patrol staffing for the first time in 25 years. It added eight additional patrol officers to help respond to calls in our community and provided funding for a School Resource Officer and support staff. 

The Public Safety Levy also provided funding for all patrol officers to attend advanced crisis and de-escalation training. One in five police calls involve someone experiencing a mental health crisis. This training allows Tigard officers to take a more comprehensive approach in their response. 

If the Public Safety Renewal Levy passes, the City would maintain existing services. Your tax rate would not increase, and the police department would continue to have the same funding for staffing and training that the original levy provided.  This Renewal Levy would continue the rate of $0.29 per $1,000 of assessed value.  

If the Public Safety Renewal Levy does not pass, the City would need to consider service cuts or alternative revenue options to maintain services. 

The second measure to know about is the revised City Charter. 

The City of Tigard’s Charter – a document that lays out the organization, powers, functions, and procedures of the city government – has not been comprehensively reviewed and amended since it was adopted in 1962. 

If the measure passes, the proposed City Charter would not change Tigard’s form of government, how laws are passed, or how elected officials are elected. 

The proposed Charter would include two key changes:

• The proposal would add two Councilors to City Council. This change would increase the City Council to seven members. The total Council would be composed of six Councilors and the Mayor. Most cities the size of Tigard in Oregon have six Councilors.
• Proposed term limits would restrict elected officials to no more than 4 terms total, and no more than two consecutive terms as Councilor or Mayor.   

If the Charter amendment doesn’t pass, the City’s current Charter would remain in place. 

For more information on both ballot measures, how to register to vote, and where to drop off your ballot visit Tigard-or.gov/vote