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55 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, May 5, 2005 Today's News | Shop Our Valley | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery | Contact Us SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion Tempo AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map SPECIAL SECTIONS Since We Asked Outdoor Journal Menu Guide How To Guide Health Readers' Choice Real Estate Showcase Real Estate Guide Joy Magazine Homelife Magazine Wedding Guide Passport to the Rogue Valley SHOP OUR VALLEY AutoFinder HomeFinder JobFinder Classified Place an ad TOP JOBS EXTRA Ashland News NIE Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People Volunteer Moving here? eSouthernOregon CUSTOMER SERVICE FAQ's Advertise with us Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Oregon Road Conditions & Cams Email Story to a Friend December 21, 2002 Some of those with the most to lose still reject a tax hike Bill Connolly doesn’t need a letter from the state to tell him what elimination of his Medicaid benefits might mean. "I can’t make the bed, I can’t wash the dishes," said the 73-year-old Medford man, who suffered a series of small strokes a couple of months ago. "If Marty weren’t here, I couldn’t function. I don’t like that part." That would be Marty Bengtson, 45, the part-time Senior and Disabled Services caregiver whose wages are covered by a Medicaid benefit of about $650 a month. Connolly is among some 600 Jackson County residents set to lose long-term Medicaid benefits as part of budget-balancing tactics by the state of Oregon. Within the next few weeks, he’ll receive a letter in the mail detailing the changes. No question, losing Bengtson’s services would be devastating for Connolly, a self-described entrepreneur who made — and lost — riches during a lifetime spent starting nearly two dozen different businesses. Even as he faces personal cuts in services, however, Connolly said he likely won’t support a temporary state income tax measure on the Jan. 28 ballot. And he remains firmly opposed to a statewide sales tax. "They’ve gotten along without it for a long time. I think they can keep getting along without it," said Connolly, who lives on Social Security payments of about $550 a month. Like many voters, Connolly believes mismanagement of state resources has created the current budget crisis. And like many voters, he’s leery of "sky-is-falling" pronouncements and believes state leaders should look elsewhere for savings. "There are some programs that could be cut that nobody would ever miss," Connolly said. "I don’t think raising taxes is the answer. I think the answer is to cut out the waste." Local administrators say they understand that view, and the frustration behind it. "The across-the-board nature of these cuts is not the way prudent state administrators cut," said Hank Collins, Jackson County’s director of health and human services. He wonders whether lawmakers have looked hard enough at other options. "I’m sure there are many obscure government commissions that don’t accomplish a lot," Collins said. With that in mind, Oregonians like Connolly aren’t inclined to approve any new taxes, especially during an economic downturn, no matter the consequences. "We’re going to have to all experience a world of hurt before the citizens of Oregon will do something," Collins said. Mail Tribune Home | Local News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Life | Opinion AP News | Archives | Site Map | Community | Classified Copyright © 1997-2005 Mail Tribune, Inc. All rights reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Website Feedback Free Music Downloads Conference Calls - $50/Month Home Security Systems Trunks, Footlocker, Trunk, Footlockers home equity loans helzberg diamonds Distance Education Diamonds Online Poker Auto Insurance Slippers Student Loans tcg student loan consolidation teleconferencing Website Design & Marketing Memory Foam Mattress w2 forms Mortgage Calculator Free Home-Loan Referrals Advertisement s