Opinion
Appointed Josephine County commissioner in February 2026, Colene Martin has quickly backed higher costs for residents and weaker independent budget oversight.
Higher Fees
Martin supported fee hikes that hit households directly.
The board approved park-fee increases, including raising day-use parking to $10 and increasing annual pass costs. Martin has not taken steps to reduce the rates back to their previous levels, while John West has called for rolling back the increases.
The county moved forward on Southern Oregon Sanitation rate adjustments, including a 20% gate-fee increase at the Kerby Transfer Station.
Government may call them fees, but households, seniors, and small businesses still pay the bill.
More Levy Pressure
Public safety is a core county responsibility. But discussions under the current board have highlighted funding shortfalls for juvenile operations and related needs, including the District Attorney’s Office.
Commissioners have advanced renewal of the existing Adult Jail and Juvenile Detention levy while exploring additional funding structures to cover juvenile detention and related costs.
That keeps more taxpayer burden on the table rather than first requiring deeper spending cuts, efficiencies, and stronger priorities within the existing county budget.
Budget Oversight Reduced
Most telling for fiscal conservatives, the board voted 3–0 to terminate all three citizen members of the Budget Committee and require them to reapply.
New appointments followed, including Dorothy Yetter, a former chair of the Josephine County Democratic Party.
That move reduced independent citizen checks on spending at a time when the county continues to expand positions and seek more revenue.
Democratic Party Support
In the 2024 race, Martin received support from the Josephine County Democratic Central Committee’s slate, even as she ran as a Republican.
That cross-party backing, combined with her votes and appointments since taking office, points to a governing approach more comfortable with fee increases, levy talk, and reshuffling budget oversight than with the restraint fiscal conservatives expect.
The Bottom Line
The pattern is clear: higher fees, more levy discussion, and fewer independent budget voices. Fiscal conservatives looking for someone who prioritizes holding the line on taxpayer costs have little reason to support Colene Martin based on this record.
