Document text
0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Look within and ask: Is war necessary? ... Smoking ban session draws little response ... Translating Shakespeare into modern English ... Look within and ask: Is war necessary? ... Smoking ban session draws little response ... Translating Shakespeare into modern English ... OUR VIEW Our View: Paying for paving Comment DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Mar. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM Posted Mar. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News Ashland voters did the right thing when they approved and later extended the food and beverage tax to pay for the city's sewage treatment plant and acquire park land. This fall, they may have the opportunity to redirect some of the proceeds for a new purpose: fixing city streets. The city's 5 percent tax on prepared food and and beverages was first enacted in 1993 as a 1 percent tax to pay off the loan used to build a new sewage treatment plant, expanded to 5 percent to add park land acquisition and then renewed by voters in 2009. Since the, the debt on the sewage plant was refinanced, and the payments are smaller. That means the city is collecting more than it needs to pay off the loan. Meanwhile, many of the city's streets are in need of repair and, in some cases, major rebuilding because of years of deferred maintenance. The City Council could divert the extra meals tax proceeds to road repairs if it chose to, but councilors said last week the city should ask voters' permission because the tax was initially approved for another purpose. That's a wise suggestion, especially considering the divisive battle that occurred seven years ago when restaurant owners and others tried to defeat the renewal. A big selling point for the tax is that tourists, who use city parks and the sewer system, help pay it. Visitors use the streets, too. It makes sense for them to help pay for repairs. DailyTidings.com Writer Posted Mar. 15, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with DailyTidings.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Alerts Email alerts RSS feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. DailyTidings.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501