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3 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Judge candidates spar over effectiveness of drug court ... Portland high-tech is surging thanks to affordability ... AP: Engineered timber could be boon to wood products industry ... Judge candidates spar over effectiveness of drug court ... Portland high-tech is surging thanks to affordability ... AP: Engineered timber could be boon to wood products industry ... OUR VIEW Vote yes for transit, Measure 15-141 MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 26, 2016 @ 12:01 am Posted Apr. 26, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Social News p bs:newslist StartDate="20121121" EndDate="p bs:datecalc Months="3"" DateSort="1" UseObjects="1" ObjectClass="81" Taxonomywords="2325,665" ExactTaxonomyMatch="1" Image="1" Count="4" --> Like a city bus that keeps turning up at the same time, the Rogue Valley Transportation District is back with a request for a five-year levy that would help it restore Saturday and evening service and add routes to help high school and community college students get to class. RVTD is back because its previous levy request failed at the polls in November 2014. The need for more funding, however, didn't magically go away. The district is asking voters for the the same amount it requested two years ago: 13 cents per $1,000 assessed value, or about $26 a year for a home assessed at $200,000. Remember that assessed value is generally lower than real market value (what your property would likely sell for). That's not a great deal of money for most property owners, and maintaining a health bus system benefits everyone in the community, not just those who ride the bus. Critics of the levy request frequently insist that those who use the service should pay for it. That would be a fine idea, if it were possible. It's not. Fares cover approximately 20 percent of RVTD's operating expenses. Covering 100 percent would put a bus ride well out of reach of those who need it most: students, seniors, the disabled and those who cannot afford to own and maintain a car. We all pay for things we don't use or use rarely. If you've never had to call the fire department, lucky you. But you will be glad it's there, staffed and equipped, if you ever need it. The bus system also benefits the wider community in tangible ways. Rogue Community College students learning marketable skills at the Table Rock campus can't get there by bus now, but they will be able to if the levy passes. South Medford High School students who could take city buses to the old campus on Oakdale Avenue lost that option when the school moved out to Cunningham Way. The levy would add a route to that location. Buses reduce automobile traffic and the related air pollution, and give people in many parts of the county a way to get to jobs, which helps the economy. If the levy fails again, RVTD will run out of reserves by 2018 and have to begin cutting back even more on service. And that would be a disservice that affects us all, whether we realize it or not. We recommend a yes vote on Measure 15-141. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Apr. 26, 2016 @ 12:01 am » Comment or view comments Terms of Service /* $( document ).ready(function() { // Jquery mobile is trying to style the button and leaving a blank gry button on top of a white button $("#viafouracoms .vf-comment-controls li.vf-right").html(' Submit '); });*/ » 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 Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501