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SUNNY Temp: 64 °F Wind: CLM at 0 mph Friday, August 29, 2003 SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA HomeLife Magazine Joy Magazine Tempo A & E RogueValleyAutoFinder RogueValleyHomeFinder Real Estate Showcase Wellness Connection 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 Employment Contact Us Media Kit Email Story to a Friend August 8, 2003 Law lets Eagle Point out of RVTD taxing By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune EAGLE POINT — Complaints from local residents that they are the victims of taxation without representation have finally reached the governor’s desk. Gov. Ted Kulongoski recently signed legislation aimed at ending a bureaucratic oversight that forces 339 Eagle Point residents to pay property tax to Rogue Valley Transportation District. These residents don’t benefit from bus service and can’t vote on elections for RVTD candidates. The legislation, backed by Reps. Alan Bates, D-Ashland, and George Gilman, R-Medford, will allow Eagle Point to circulate a petition that can be presented to the county commissioners to stop this practice. Advertisement The residents, scattered throughout the city but most around the Eagle Point Golf Course, have been required to pay 17 cents to RVTD for each $1,000 of assessed valuation. "We’ve got one resident who pays the tax and another neighbor across the street who does not," said Eagle Point City Administrator Dave Hussell, who is also one of the residents who pays the tax. The Jackson County assessor’s office calculated last year that 339 properties in Eagle Point mistakenly pay taxes for RVTD but don’t fall within the district’s boundaries. The problem arose after RVTD established its boundaries in unincorporated areas of Jackson County; in the meantime, Eagle Point had expanded into some of these areas. Hussell said the city eventually will need bus service, but RVTD currently doesn’t have the resources to provide it. "We don’t want to be taxed unless we’re getting some service for being taxed," he said. Lynn Corwin, who lives near the golf course, said, "I’m glad they’ve done something to correct it and I hope they will follow through and make sure they correct it." But Corwin, who pays about $25 a year for the tax, thought the county could have done something about it a long time ago. Yvonne Fletes, RVTD’s acting general manager, said the district has backed Eagle Point residents’ desire to stop paying the assessment. But the legislation as drafted could have some pitfalls for RVTD, she noted. "The bill is devastating to us because of the wording," said Fletes. "The terms are pretty vague." Since it doesn’t define what transportation service means, outlying areas that don’t feel they receive sufficient service could theoretically ask to be excluded from the district. The bill, which also doesn’t specifically mention Eagle Point, allows areas in Southern Oregon with a population of fewer than 10,000 residents to withdraw from a transportation district if they are not receiving service. "It could prove to be problematic for the district," she said, but since the intent of the legislation was to address the specific situation in Eagle Point, it probably won’t have much more impact. Also, the legislation was written with a time limit of two years. RVTD will lose about $8,000 a year from the legislation, said Fletes. Bates, a physician whose practice is in Eagle Point, said the legislation — HB 2857 — will help clear up an inequity. County commissioners had earlier considered the matter, but said they would be in violation of state law if they ended the assessment. "It takes the handcuffs off the county commissioners so they can make a decision without worrying about state law," he said. Gilman said the legislation is for Eagle Point even though it doesn’t specifically mention the town. Gilman and Bates made more than one attempt to get the legislation passed, fearing it would be overlooked or defeated. "I didn’t think we would get it," said Gilman. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, 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 © 1997-2003 Mail Tribune. 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