Hood River County Commissioners decided unanimously to keep the County’s proposed public safety levy measure on the May 19 ballot.  Commissioners held an emergency meeting on Thursday to discuss whether the economic impact of the COVID-19 crisis and whether property taxpayers could afford the levy of 78 cents per thousand dollars of assessed property value.  But Commission Chair Mike Oates says the current situation illustrates the need to keep the County’s public safety and emergency services properly funded.  Oates added the measure would help stabilize the County’s health department by taking some of the pressure off the general fund.