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Click Here 47 °F Forecast | Road Cams Monday, February 2, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend January 11, 2004 Residents of Shady Cove last year defeated Measure 28 by 71.5 percent � the highest of any incorporated community in the county. Residents believe Measure 30 will suffer a similar fate. Mail Tribune / Bob Pennell Voices of the Vote: Precinct 26, Shady Cove The community most likely to vote ‘no’ says that the system needs to be fixed, but Measure 30 isn’t the way to do it By DAMIAN MANN Mail Tribune Rural, conservative and suspicious of government, Shady Cove residents likely will turn their thumbs down on Measure 30 partially because they say it will hurt seniors. "We in Shady Cove don’t seem to vote for anything," said Bill Kyle, who moved here six years ago from Minnesota. Residents in Precinct 26, which includes most of the town, last year voted down Measure 28 by an overwhelming 71.5 percent — the highest of any incorporated community in the county. This city of roughly 2,300 on the Rogue River is slightly older than the rest of Jackson County, with a median age of 45 compared to the county’s 39, according to U.S. Census figures. And its median income is slightly less — $35,917 compared to the county’s $36,461. Most residents earned a high school diploma, but few have gone on to earn bachelor’s degrees — just 11 percent compared to 22 percent countywide. Advertisement Like many of his neighbors, 71-year-old Kyle supports schools, police and human services. The registered Independent just doesn’t think the Legislature has done enough to curb spending. Kyle said he probably will reject Measure 30, particularly after learning of a provision that reduces or eliminates an additional medical deduction for seniors. "The Legislature threw this out and hoped it would stick to the wall — and it didn’t," said Kyle. "The Legislature has to address this problem and not put the burden on senior citizens." Kyle, who along with his wife, Janet, earns considerably more than the median income, said, "The question is not whether you can afford it or not — is it fair?" Kyle was inclined to vote for the tax measure until he penciled out what it would cost him. After calculating his income, which fell into the $50,000 to $70,000 range in 2002, he said the increased tax liability would amount to $546. (State Department of Revenue figures calculate the average cost to taxpayers in this income bracket is $102.) If it had been around $200, he would have voted for it, Kyle said. "I agree that you have to be your brother’s keeper to some extent," he said. "But when does it become too much of a burden on senior citizens?" Resident Erna Hughes agrees the tax measure will fail in Shady Cove, but not because of her. "I don’t want the state to go broke like California," said the 83-year-old Republican. She acknowledges her opinions are not shared by the majority of residents in Shady Cove, so Hughes generally keeps her opinions about politics to herself. She said she is more apt to vote for measures that are beneficial to everyone in the community. For instance, she said she would be inclined to support a new water system for the city even though she personally has a plentiful water supply. She does agree with others that government doesn’t always spend its money wisely, but the community needs good schools and a good police system, she said. Hughes supports the idea of changing the tax structure in Oregon. "I’ve wondered when they’re going to have a sales tax," she said. "I just don’t know how they get along." But getting government to run more efficiently is an uphill battle, she said. "They don’t know how to spend it and they never will," said Hughes, who moved here from California in 1993. Resident Jim Garvis is still undecided about how he’s going to vote, because he realizes the defeat of Measure 30 will hurt schools. "I was leaning toward a ‘yes’ vote until I found out they’re going to nick the seniors," said this 78-year-old Republican. He expects his town will vote no on the tax. "We’re very conservative," said Garvis, who moved to Oregon from California with his wife, Duanita, three years ago. "We’re pretty much anti-tax." He thinks legislators have once again put a gun to the head of voters, forcing them to decide between taxes that aren’t necessary and cuts to schools, police and human services. "I think both sides believe the schools need to be helped, but I don’t believe the Legislature came up with a plan that would be satisfactory," he said. One thing that rankles Garvis, who would support a value added tax, is all the provisions in the tax measure that make it difficult to understand and less palatable to vote for. "I feel I could give a more educated opinion if I knew more about the parts of the bill," he said. Reach reporter Damian Mann at 776-4476, or e-mail [email protected] Mail Tribune Home Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life Opinion - Politics | AP News | Archives | Site Map E Southern Oregon | Classified Copyright © 1997-2004 Mail Tribune. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions Website Feedback 3 WEEKS FREE! ADVERTISERS A D V E R T I S E R S RESOURCES Oregon Road Conditions & Cams SPECIAL SECTIONS Auto Finder Job Finder Home Finder Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Tempo Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Since We Asked Food for Thought Wellness Connection Outdoor Journal Moving to Southern Oregon? Volunteer Opportunities Prime Times