BANDON — Coos County election workers have dropped Bandon ballots in the box, the mailbox that is, for the Nov. 3 election. Bandon residents are being asked to decide whether to impose a 5-year property tax levy to generate funds for the police department.

The city placed Measure No. 6-128 on the ballot in an effort to generate funds for full-force police protection beginning in 2010.

City Manager Matt Winkel said one of the primary public safety concerns is ensuring 24-hour police coverage. A minimum of six officers is required to maintain coverage and allow for overlap that would free officer time for investigations and drug enforcement programs, as well as administrative duties.

“With a population of 3,300, this calculates to 1.8 police officers per 1,000 population,” Winkel said. “The statewide average is 1.6 police officers per 1,000 population. Dropping Bandon’s police force to five officers would mean 1.5 officers per 1,000 population, which is below the statewide average.”

The city has six police officers, but without additional funding it will not be able to guarantee 24-hour coverage after the 2010 fiscal year.

If approved, the proposed police levy would pay the expenses of two full-time police officers and vehicle costs for five years. Those funds will be combined with money from the city’s general fund to provide a total of six full-time police officers, plus the clerical/dispatch office specialist and all other police department operating expenses.

The proposed levy would generate $1.1 million over five years, which would be imposed in equal amounts of $221,025 each year. It would cost an estimated 56 cents per $1,000 assessed value in the first year.