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SUNNY Temp: 90 °F Wind: W at 8 mph Tuesday, September 24, 2002 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine W3 Magazine Jobs @ Mail Tribune Tempo A & E Oregon CarZone Wellness Connection Real Estate Newspaper in Education Prime Times Outdoor Journal Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find Everything E SOUTHERN OREGON Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar ABOUT US FAQ What's New Advertise Home Delivery Classified Ad Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend September 1, 2002 Cigarette tax measure confuses some voters It’s not the same measure Kitzhaber vetoed, clerk notes By DANI DODGE Mail Tribune As she made sure ballots were getting in the mail Friday, Jackson County Clerk Kathy Beckett was concerned. Not about the ballots, mind you. At least 106,000 are on their way to Jackson County homes. She was worried about confusion over what is on those ballots. "We’ve been getting a number of calls from folks who are asking why they are voting on the cigarette sales tax," Beckett said. "They are saying ‘The governor has already vetoed this; why are we voting on this?’ " But it’s not the same issue at all, Beckett tells them. "He vetoed a bill that would have affected the issuance of bonds on future cigarette tax revenue to balance the current budget crisis," Beckett said. "And this particular measure on the ballot basically increases the tax on cigarettes by 60 cents. "People need to know, they are not voting on something that has already been vetoed." The September special election is a vote by mail. People can expect ballots to arrive in their mailboxes today and through the next week. On the ballots are two local issues and two statewide measures. The two statewide measures were referred by the state Legislature onto this ballot. Measure 20 increases the cigarette tax by 60 cents to $1.28 per pack. The increase would raise money for the Oregon Health Plan, stop-smoking programs, cities, counties and disabled transportation programs. Measure 19, which amends the state Constitution, converts the state’s education endowment fund into an education stability fund and transfers $150 million of the fund to help plug shortfalls in the 2002-03 budget. With the change, the Legislature would be able to withdraw money from the fund without voter approval to pay for education. The local issues on the ballot will be decided by voters in Shady Cove and White City. Measure 15-29 proposes a Shady Cove Water District and allows election of five commissioners to oversee it. Measure 15-30 is a five-year operating levy which would raise $541,000 each year to fund 24-hour police coverage in White City. Ballots must be returned to the elections center no later than 8 p.m. Sept. 17. Beckett said she expects about 35 percent turnout overall in the county, with a higher percentage in White City. White City’s measure is the only one on the ballot that requires 50 percent of voters to cast their ballots to pass. "This seems to be a yawner for a lot of people, which is unfortunate because there are two major issues people need to get involved with," Beckett said. "They have to do with ultimate quality of life." If you have questions regarding the status of your registration, contact the elections center at 774-6148. The county’s election center is now at the old Safeway building in west Medford at 1101 W. Main St. Reach reporter Dani Dodge at 776-4471, or e-mail [email protected] Printer Friendly Version Email Story to a Friend Subscribe Archive: Click to Search Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright 1997-2002 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy webmaster feedback A D V E R T I S E R S