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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Home News Latest Stories Mt. Ashland Ski Area to open first terrain park Friday Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Matthew T. Mangino: The future of the death penalty in question? Watch SOU championship on big screen at HEC in Medford Free guided day hikes planned at TouVelle, Valley of the Rogue Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Matthew T. Mangino: The future of the death penalty in question? Emergency services Man pleads guilty to gang-fight charges Emergency Services Police utilize social media to track down sex offender Politics and Elections State certifies recount showing failure of GMO-labeling measure Time running out for O&C funds GMO vote recount still shows little change GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means Education Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Logos may offer students 'fifth year' at RCC or SOU St. Mary's plays host to youth robotics tournament A lesson in giving Hedrick student council works to clean up the language Environment No fish, no funding for problem dams Most residents speak against gas pipeline Coalition asks for defense of GMO ban Home Help: Make your new house feel like home Bighorn sheep reintroduced along Klamath River State News As deadline nears, Oregon's health insurance signups still low Gang-related shooting in Portland sends 3 youth to hospital GMO labeling proponents concede defeat Tribes can decide whether to legalize pot Lawyer says football player had altercation Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Dolores Jean Marier Christina Lea "Mima" Jacobson Donna Jeanne Brawn DeCamp Joan E. 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Jim Brock: Just enjoy the holiday, already Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Editorials Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need Our View: Ashland Hospital's remarkable turnaround Our View: Councilors' criticism less troubling than secrecy Other Views: Riley leaves strong legacy at OSU Our View: Cheers and jeers Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 17 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 16 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 15 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 14 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 12 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: Loved one chose death with dignity in Oregon Guest Opinion: Forest thinning means water for the future Guest Opinion: Suit threatens family farms and democratic vote Guest Opinion: SOU pool decision short-sighted Guest Opinion: It's time for biologists to let OR-7 go dark Lifestyle Latest stories Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond How NOT to install drywall 5 Things to Do This Weekend (Dec. 19-21) Dave Ramsey: When children steal money Food Community blog: Liver pat� an easy nosh for Hanukkah and beyond Local bubbly can ring in the New Year Food for Thought: How to keep your kitchen organized during the holidays Kitchen Call: Shopping for the cook Community blog: Gobble gougeres as appetizers or with light meals Home and Garden How NOT to install drywall Dear Monty: Siblings dispute inherited real estate Home Help: Create a happy homemade holiday Rogue Valley Christmas light displays Remodeling your attic: Know the details before you start Health Community blog: The Promise of Hope � and Health - Fulfilled Community blog: Saving Lives Health Watch: Curb your kitchen cravings this holiday season Community blog: Unsubscribe.com Community blog: Redefining Family Hiking Biking Faith Bethel Church helps families at McLoughlin Middle School Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Milestones and Achievements Ashland celebrates 'Wild' screening with Cheryl Strayed Asante merger stabilizes Ashland hospital's finances Time running out for O&C funds Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Seattle rock band Smokey Brights plays Howiee's ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Theater ACT presents reading of 'The Quality of Life' Meet the real Jacob Marley This Nutcracker ballet will have a superhero twist Plumbing the depths of meaning TMTO presents 'A Christmas Carol: The Musical' Music Seattle rock band Smokey Brights plays Howiee's Eight Dollar Mountain and Fruition play Applegate Lodge John Nilsen's holiday concerts kick off this week Ashland Blues Society hosts open jam Rating old-timers’ albums from 2014 Community Events Dance to the Southern Oregon Jazz Orchestra Rogue Valley Christmas light displays It's a Hamazon holiday at the Playwright Public House 4 Things to do this Week Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Dining Over Easy serves 'pop-up' brunch Sundays Ooblies Artisan Waffle Sandwiches Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Mt. Ashland Ski Area to open first terrain park Friday ... Watch SOU championship on big screen at HEC in Medford ... Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need ... Mt. Ashland Ski Area to open first terrain park Friday ... Watch SOU championship on big screen at HEC in Medford ... Our View: Celebrate by helping those in need ... FOOD TAX Ashland won't tax market vendors until 2015 Council decides retroactively applying the tax could be too complex By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 17, 2014 @ 2:00 am By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 17, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News ASHLAND — In a 4-3 decision, the Ashland City Council Tuesday night voted to defer enforcement of the city's longstanding food and beverage tax on vendors at the Rogue Valley Growers and Crafters Market until 2015. "It's really a 51-49 decision for me," said Councilor Dennis Slattery. "If I thought the spirit of the people selling there was to cheat the tax, I'd feel different about it." The city hadn't made any effort to enforce the tax for the more than 20 years the market has been in existence, and vendors had been under the impression it didn't apply to them. But this summer, the city received a complaint from a brick-and-mortar restaurant, whose proprietors said it was unfair that the 5 percent tax was only being collected on their ilk. When the city sent letters to the market this fall, asking vendors to pay up, City Administrator Dave Kanner says vendors made no attempt at compliance. At the council's Dec. 2 meeting, many vendors balked at paying a tax that was variously described as unprofitable, when collected from vendors only in operation a few hours a week, and unfair, when those vendors were excluded from doing business in the downtown core. Market President Monica Rey had asked the council at the last meeting to wait until the new year to begin collection of the taxes, arguing that it was unfair to collect taxes retroactively from vendors who hadn't known the tax applied to them. "In the interest of keeping the peace," Slattery said Tuesday, "this is the way we should go." Councilor Rich Rosenthal Tuesday asked city Finance Director Lee Tuneberg what options the city had for collection of back taxes on vendors. It's complicated, Tuneberg explained. Because the vendors haven't been collecting the tax and keeping records of it, the city would basically be forced to guess, and would have to use an appeals process if the vendors claimed the estimate was too high. Then, there's the issue of identifying all the vendors who fall under the tax. Under the market's current operation, the market itself obtains one business license that covers all the vendors. "Because of (the individual vendors) not coming to our counter and getting a business license, we don't know that they're out there," he said. Rosenthal, along with Mike Morris and Greg Lemhouse, said they weren't following that line of thought. "I resist the notion that, somehow, the city should be taking responsibility for people who are in business who should know the rules," Rosenthal said. "I'm going to vote against this because I feel it's unfair to the law-abiding businesses." Lemhouse said the vendors' defense that they had been given incorrect information about the rules suggested there were management issues with the market itself that needed to be addressed. Councilor Pam Marsh, along with Mayor John Stromberg, pointed out that there was a tremendous amount of confusion on all sides about the issue, with no definitive answer. It would be better, Marsh said, to start fresh in 2015. Reach reporter Thomas Moriarty at 541-776-4471, or by email at [email protected] . Follow him at @ThomasDMoriarty . By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Thomas Moriarty Mail Tribune Posted Dec. 17, 2014 @ 2:00 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. calendar Connect with MailTribune.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 Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs 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. 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