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COUNCIL CORNER Using meals tax to fix streets is a no-brainer Comment By Rich Rosenthal DailyTidings.com By Rich Rosenthal Posted Sep. 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM By Rich Rosenthal Posted Sep. 13, 2016 at 12:01 AM » Social News General election ballots contain fascinating decisions, but the most immediately impactful choice Ashland voters will make this November doesn't involve candidates — it pertains to the future condition of our streets. Our nation's decades-old transportation infrastructure is crumbling — a mind-boggling unfunded crisis that will not easily be addressed without major changes to state and federal funding mechanisms. The city of Ashland faces a $10.5 million street-repair backlog. Fortunately, we have the opportunity to harness the higher-than-expected Food and Beverage Tax revenues to improve the condition of our streets. Because the amount of funding generated from the tax is more than enough to fund current wastewater treatment facility debt and because of timely refinancing of debt by the city's finance director, the City Council is asking voters to use the meals tax dividend to subsidize a pavement management program and to increase the share of revenue for Parks purposes from 20 percent to 25 percent of total collections. The proposed adjustment to the tax ordinance does not change the current rate of 5 percent and does not change the tax sunset date of Dec. 31, 2030. I urge a "yes" vote on this measure. Here's why: 1. If the measure is defeated, Ashland will still need to identify a funding strategy for street repairs, such as an increase in the street utility fee, which only residents pay. Because Ashland streets are used by residents as well as visitors to our community, it is appropriate that the maintenance burden be shared with tourists. 2. The food-and-beverage tax is long associated with park land acquisition and development, which has made Ashland's park system the envy of municipalities all over the country. The proposed adjustment increases the proportion allocated to the Parks and Recreation Department in keeping with the original core purpose of the ordinance. 3. Once pavement condition is upgraded, streets can be maintained on a regular and much less costly schedule, thus avoiding the significantly higher cost of reconstruction. It's a smart investment because it costs approximately $1.4 million to reconstruct a mile of roadway, but only $285,000 per mile to apply an overlay treatment that extends the life of the street. 4. Even if food-and-beverage tax collections don't grow, there is still adequate funding to continue paying off the wastewater treatment debt all the way to its 2022 sunset. It doesn't make sense to allow this restricted revenue to accumulate when the city has a multi-million dollar street repair backlog. Voters have some difficult decisions when they receive their ballots in the mail next month. The modification of the Food and Meals Tax is not one of them, in my opinion. It's a no-brainer. — Rich Rosenthal is a member of the Ashland City Council. By Rich Rosenthal DailyTidings.com By Rich Rosenthal Posted Sep. 13, 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... 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