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FOR THE PEOPLE, BY THE PEOPLE. WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 24, 2025

How Barnett’s Recall Defenders Keep Repeating Disproven Claims

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The Lie That Wouldn’t Die

By John Oliver In Josephine County, the dispute surrounding County Commissioner Chris Barnett and the recall effort against him has moved far beyond a routine political disagreement. What has unfolded instead is a prolonged and increasingly documented clash between verifiable public records and a parallel narrative that continues to be promoted by Barnett and his political supporters, even after being directly confronted with evidence showing that key claims are false. At the center of the controversy is a pattern that critics say reflects not confusion or misunderstanding, but a willful refusal to correct the record once the facts became inconvenient. The core issue involves repeated claims that Barnett and allied political organizations have saved Josephine County approximately $1.5 million annually through personnel decisions, including a voluntary resignation program and departmental terminations. These claims were circulated publicly in recall rebuttal materials, on social media, and through official partisan communications. However, public records obtained directly from the county’s own finance department tell a markedly different story, one

that undercuts the central talking point used to discredit the recall. Those records were obtained through formal public records requests under Oregon law, requests that themselves became part of the controversy. Correspondence shows delays, overlapping acknowledgements, and explanations involving staff absences that raised questions about transparency and timeliness. Despite those delays, the requested documents were eventually produced, and when reviewed alongside explanations provided by county finance staff, they revealed that the claimed savings simply do not exist in the manner being advertised. According to the county’s Voluntary Resignation Program cost analysis, only a small

number of positions associated with the program resulted in any ongoing savings. Most of the positions were either refilled or budgeted to be refilled, negating any long-term fiscal reduction. One of the positions cited as a savings example was grant funded, meaning its elimination produced no net benefit to the county budget at all. Of the remaining positions, at least one has already been identified as a candidate for refilling in future budgets, further eroding the claim of permanent savings. In practical terms, the records show that the actual ongoing savings from the voluntary resignation program fall somewhere between zero and two positions, depending on future staffing decisions. Even that estimate fails to account for the reality that eliminated facilities

positions do not make the work disappear. In many cases, the county must still pay contractors to perform the same tasks, shifting costs rather than eliminating them. This distinction, documented in county records and explained by finance staff, directly contradicts the public messaging that has continued to circulate. The individual who brought much of this documentation forward is Jay Meredith, a certified public accountant and longtime observer of county government. Meredith has attended or monitored Board of Commissioners meetings for more than a decade and has been directly involved in past local recall efforts. In communications sent to political party leadership and county officials, Meredith warned that the continued publication of incorrect financial claims could expose those responsible to legal risk, particularly in the context of a recall election, which Oregon law treats as an election even during the signature gathering phase. Meredith’s warnings were not vague or speculative. He attached the underlying public records, explained how to read the cost analysis, and repeatedly invited party officials to meet in person to review the data line by line. Those invitations were largely declined. Instead, the disputed claims continued to appear in official recall rebuttal materials, including on websites associated with the local Republican organization. That organization, the Josephine County Republican Central Committee, has played a cen-

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see DISPROVEN, page 5

What Modest Economic Growth Really Means for Southern Oregon Households By John Oliver The latest federal economic report delivered a headline that sounded far more dramatic than the reality most Southern Oregon residents experience day to day. While national coverage highlighted a 4.3 percent annualized growth rate for the U.S. economy in the third quarter, the actual quarter-to-quarter expansion was closer to 1.1 percent. That distinction matters, especially in regions like Southern Oregon where household budgets, small businesses, and local governments feel economic shifts long before they appear in national averages. An annualized figure assumes that one quarter’s pace continues unchanged for an entire year. It is a projection, not a measurement of what actually happened on the ground over those three months. The real growth rate reflects the economy’s actual expansion between July and September, and at roughly 1.1 percent, that growth was steady but far from explosive. For Southern Oregon residents, this explains why a seemingly strong national report may not feel like a boom at the grocery store, gas pump, or utility counter. Much of the reported growth came from areas that do not always translate directly into local paychecks. Federal data shows increases in consumer spending on services, higher government spending, and changes in trade that boosted the national total as imports declined and exports increased. Those shifts can lift GDP without mean-

ingfully improving household financial security. In rural and semi-rural regions like Josephine and Jackson counties, where wages lag behind metropolitan areas and the cost of essentials continues to rise, modest growth does little to ease financial strain. Southern Oregon consumers remain cautious, and for good reason. Food prices, insurance premiums, electricity, and fuel costs have all remained elevated. A 1.1 percent quarterly expansion does not offset years of accumulated inflation. Many households are still prioritizing necessities over discretionary spending, which affects local retailers, restaurants, and service providers. When shoppers pull back even slightly,

small businesses feel the impact quickly, limiting hiring and expansion. The labor market also reflects this slower reality. While national employment figures remain relatively stable, hiring growth has softened. In Southern Oregon, where seasonal work, tourism, healthcare, and construction play outsized roles, even minor slowdowns can ripple through the community. Employers facing higher borrowing costs and uncertain consumer demand are less likely to add staff or raise wages aggressively, reinforcing the feeling that economic momentum is limited. Housing provides another clear example of how modest growth translates locally. Mortgage rates remain high, keeping many would-be buyers on the sidelines and slowing home sales. For renters, limited housing supply continues to push costs upward. A quarter of modest economic growth does little to resolve these structural challenges, especially in areas already facing housing shortages and affordability pressures. Local governments are not immune either. County and city budgets depend heavily on property taxes, service fees, and economic activity. When growth is steady but subdued, public agencies often face difficult choices, balancing rising costs for infrastructure, public safety, and social services against constrained revenues. For residents, this can mean delayed projects, reduced services, or increased fees. What the latest data does signal is stability

rather than acceleration. The economy is growing, not contracting, which reduces the immediate risk of recession. For Southern Oregon, that stability helps preserve existing jobs and businesses, even if it does not generate rapid improvement. It also suggests that interest rates may remain higher for longer, as policymakers weigh continued growth against inflation that has yet to fully retreat. That prospect affects everything from farm loans and business credit lines to car purchases and home refinancing. For everyday residents, the takeaway is simple. Despite optimistic national headlines, economic conditions remain tight. Growth is real, but modest, and unevenly felt. Southern Oregon households continue to navigate higher costs with limited wage growth, relying on careful budgeting rather than economic tailwinds. Until growth translates more directly into lower prices, stronger local hiring, and increased disposable income, the gap between national statistics and lived experience is likely to remain firmly in place.