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SUNNY Temp: 55 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Thursday, November 21, 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 20, 2002 Eagle Point, to no avail, asks RVTD to drop tax By JILL BRISKEY Mail Tribune Eagle Point isn’t part of the Rogue Valley Transportation District, but more than 340 city residents are annually taxed by the transit agency. There are no fixed bus routes in Eagle Point, although RVTD does provide a senior shuttle service. Eagle Point city officials and residents say it’s wrong to charge them for services they didn’t ask for and do not receive. They’re fighting to be removed from RVTD’s tax rolls. But the decision ultimately lies with the RVTD board of directors, who in 2001 turned down a similar request and on Wednesday brushed aside a second plea for change. "We’re being taxed unfairly. We’re not getting any services," said Robert Hickey, a retired Eagle Point resident and property owner who has been paying the RVTD tax for years. "It isn’t right." According to Eagle Point City Administrator David Hussell, the issue first came to a head 18 months ago when an investigation revealed more than 200 property owners were paying taxes to RVTD. The properties are on the north, south and central part town, and the majority are within city limits. It’s unclear why the properties are on RVTD’s tax rolls. Hussell said it may be a case of past annexations that weren’t ever noticed. RVTD’s tax bill is relatively small — 17 cents per assessed $1,000, or $17 on a $100,000 home — but Hussell said city officials want to clear up the matter. The RVTD board denied the request, citing the need to preserve funding for the district. Jackson County officials couldn’t offer any help. County Tax Assessor Dan Ross said under state statutes, property owners can only ask county commissioners to adjust boundaries or withdraw property if the taxing district doesn’t offer a service to the area. "There’s nothing that they can do. It’s to a point were the city can’t do anything," Ross said. "Their hands are tied." The issue flared again when Eagle Point residents who pay RVTD taxes were told they could not sign petitions to recall members of the district’s board. "It’s taxation without representation," Hussell said. "It’s the whole Boston Tea Party thing again." But RVTD General Manager Sherrin Coleman said anybody who is taxed by the district is allowed to sign the recall petitions. "I think it was all a misunderstanding," she added. Speaking on behalf of the Eagle Point City Council, Hussell attended the RVTD meeting Wednesday night to make the request again. "We would simply like to have that error addressed," he said. But board members told Hussell the tax-roll error was made by Eagle Point city officials sometime in the past, and it could not be blamed on RVTD. Ed Chapman said instead of taking the properties off the tax rolls, all of Eagle Point should be invited to join the taxing district. "We would welcome it," Chapman said. Although one board member suggested that the issue could be discussed at a later date, no action was taken and the RVTD board moved on to other business. "Basically, they blew me off: ‘No, we’re not going to do that,’" Hussell said. "Why they aren’t working with us, I don’t know. How can the transportation district accept taxes on property that’s inappropriately taxed?" Hussell said it’s unlikely that Eagle Point residents could afford increased taxes after a 52.6 percent hike in 2001. Two voter-approved bonds for fire protection and school support were behind the increase. An owner of a $250,000 home paid an additional $1,533 in taxes for the 2001-02 tax season. Ross said Rep. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, and House District 55 candidate George Gilman have vowed to bring Eagle Point’s dilemma to the next Legislature for a one-time only correction. "There’s not a lot that can be done right now," Ross added. "It’s up to the (RVTD) board." Reach reporter Jill Briskey at 776-4485, 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