Document text
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 Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford Medford police investigating 'bizarre' shots-fired incident Medford council dims impact of electronic signs Advisory warns of blue-green algae bloom at Lost Creek Lake Oregon Caves expansion closer to reality Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Medford police investigating 'bizarre' shots-fired incident One of two runaway Ashland teens may be with California man Emergency services Nurse sentenced after running over boyfriend Promotions announced at local fire departments Politics and Elections GMO labeling votes recounted under careful watch in Jackson County Kent Bush: First Amendment doesn’t mean what you think it means East Medford's the charm Pot, GMOs unite south Jackson County Buckley again named Ways and Means Committee co-chairman Education Medford school administrators get pay boost Students put their hearts into AIDS event Kitzhaber calls for early education spending in budget proposal Medford leans toward three-quarter-day kindergarten Building audits will help district save energy, and money Environment Advisory warns of blue-green algae bloom at Lost Creek Lake County calls for local control of federal lands Most dredging banned under new proposed guidelines Hawks use I-5 as hunting ground Curbing urban runoff in Gold Hill State News Bend hospital: Medication error killed patient Lawsuit: Pregnant woman fired for restroom breaks Ante for rulemaking on Oregon pot: nearly $600,000 Oregon Master Gardeners mum on legal pot Study: Killing wolves means more livestock attacks Nation - World Grand jury won't indict Ferguson cop in shooting Obituaries Delene Yvonne Pauley Guest Betty Jean Bradetich Slate Catharine Carson Sotzing Cynthia �Cyna� Ann Death Notices Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories Riley to Huskers raises several questions Riley Bolts Raiders ready for tough semi against Cougs Stakes are high for Pac-12 title game Vanguard ousts SOU from NAIA tournament Varsity 541 College Sports Riley to Huskers raises several questions Riley Bolts Raiders ready for tough semi against Cougs Stakes are high for Pac-12 title game Vanguard ousts SOU from NAIA tournament Pro Sports 76ers avoid worst start in history Cowboys look to bounce back against Bears 2015 European Tour season opens in Sun City Durant back, but Thunder falls Aldridge's helping hand propels Blazers Community Sports Keeping Fit: Runners need to do more than run to stay in shape RESULTS/STANDINGS LOCAL EVENTS Business Latest Stories Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford MBA candidates lend their talents to clients for free Blog: Costco closed Thanksgiving, but Nov. sales grew More sales, but no change in residential housing median price People in Business, Dec. 3 Real Estate News More sales, but no change in residential housing median price Dear Monty: Violation of HOA rules creates conflict Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Financial webinars offered for veterans and their families Home prices rise across Jackson County People In Business People in Business, Dec. 3 People in Business, Nov. 18 People in Business, Nov. 8 Transportation Allegiant Air will resume Medford-Phoenix service May 22 Medford airport passenger counts sky high in October Erickson reports third quarter profit Agriculture Southern Oregon wine industry had a robust 2013 Farmers file suit over GMO crop ban Lawsuit seeks to overturn Jackson County's GMO ban or net $4.2 million for farms Latest count shows Measure 92 supporters narrowing deficit Opinion Latest Granlund cartoon: Justice and Eric Garner Kent Bush: Do you want fries with that sermon? Letters to the Editor, Dec. 4 Our View: Cheers and jeers Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Editorials Our View: Cheers and jeers Our View: Stay flexible on kindergarten hours Our View: Waiting for someone else to step up Our View: What's in a name? Not that much, really Other Views: Klamath Basin agreement deserves approval Letters to the Editor Letters to the Editor, Dec. 4 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 3 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 2 Letters to the Editor, Dec. 1 Letters to the Editor, Nov. 30 Guest Opinions Guest Opinion: It's time Oregon put a price on carbon Guest Opinion: Are we the preferred path to global devastation? Guest Opinion: Fight for the rights of independent voters will continue Guest Opinion: 'Natural' not necessarily better for forest management Guest Opinion: County voters rebuffed judicial appointment process Lifestyle Latest stories Blog: BOOK IT! Friday, Thursday Edition Community blog: Merry Christmas 10 Barrel! (Big Brewery vs Small Independent Brewer) Community blog: Lentil cooking water doubles as soup stock Kent Bush: Do you want fries with that sermon? In Good Faith: Advent explosion Food Community blog: Merry Christmas 10 Barrel! (Big Brewery vs Small Independent Brewer) Community blog: Lentil cooking water doubles as soup stock 'Amazing' Soup Roxy Ann winemaker has roots in Napa Valley Community blog: Post-holiday soups easy on the budget, waistline Home and Garden Troubleshoot common water boiler problems Dear Monty: Ten helpful home-listing tips Home Help: Luxurious upgrades don’t have to break the bank 9 ways to green your gift wrap Dear Monty: How to find a good real estate attorney Health Dr. Murray Feingold: Say it like you mean it Community blog: Guiltless Holidays Better for our Health HealthStyle: Develop an attitude of gratitude Health Watch: Fuel up on carbs before workouts Health insurance enrollment help available Hiking Biking Faith Religion news: Pope aims to expedite sex abuse rulings Religion news: Seattle-based mega-church dissolves Religion Briefs 'Walk the talk' Religion briefs Milestones and Achievements Hire 'em and pray for snow Madi-Stiles A New Song Rogers-Horn New Arrivals Columnist for a Day Rogue Healthy Aging Tempo Latest stories Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall SOU presents all-percussion concert Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists Brunch at Loft Brasserie Theater Bedford Falls comes to life at Randall Camelot presents 'Fiddler on the Roof' OCT's holiday show is a wonderful play New 'Alice' has some for kids ... and adults 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' opens at Oregon Cabaret Theatre Music SOU presents all-percussion concert Shae Johnson releases 'Can You Feel the Music' Jeff Kloetzel releases 'Long Time Coming' A new guitar slinger in town Peter Chianca: Top 40 songs even a dad could love Community Events Soroptimist holiday home tour features four houses this weekend Ashland's First Friday Art Walk showcases new exhiits by regional artists 2014 Providence Festival of Trees A grand illumination at the Commons Lighting up memories Dining Brunch at Loft Brasserie The Bohemian Club Thanksgiving comes early at Taprock Word of Mouth: Brunch at Brothers' Restaurant Tempo Videos Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » Obituaries Blogs TV Listings Movie Listings Oregon Outdoors Oregon Healthy Living Magazines & Special Sections NEWS NOW Our View: Oregon budget should plan for rain ... Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford ... Medford police investigating 'bizarre' shots-fired incident ... Our View: Oregon budget should plan for rain ... Downtown property owners would fund economic development district in Medford ... Medford police investigating 'bizarre' shots-fired incident ... 2014 ELECTION RVTD says its future is riding on the election By Sam Wheeler for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Sam Wheeler for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 16, 2014 @ 5:49 pm Updated Oct 16, 2014 at 9:23 PM By Sam Wheeler for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 16, 2014 @ 5:49 pm Updated Oct 16, 2014 at 9:23 PM » Social News Rogue Valley Transportation District board members fear that if voters don’t approve raising property taxes to support the valley's local bus service, it will rapidly begin disappearing districtwide. Measure 15-128 would levy 13 cents per $1,000 of assessed property value within the transportation district for five years. It’s the first increase RVTD has asked for in more than 30 years. It would add to the flow of public funding provided by a permanent, 17.72-cent tax already in place for RVTD. If the measure passes Nov. 4, property owners in the district with a house valued at $150,000 would pay $19.50 more a year for a total of $46.08 in RVTD taxes. The current property tax costs $26.58 on a home valued at $150,000. The new levy would bring in an additional $1.69 million to district coffers each year for five years. The additional funding would not only help maintain RVTD’s current services but fund new routes to Rogue Community College’s Table Rock Road campus in White City and east Medford near McAndrews Road and Springbrook Road, said Connie Skillman, chairwoman of the RVTD board. “If this levy does not pass, then we’ll have to discontinue evening and Saturday service and make cuts in other parts of the district as well," she said. "It’s very important that the levy passes for those reasons, but it’s also a huge part of the infrastructure, and if this goes away or we have to reduce service it will have a very big impact across the board. Skillman said RVTD is seeking the levy in part because a three-year federal grant, which paid for expanded evening hours and weekend service, will end in 2015. Across the Rogue Valley, Skillman said, students, seniors and workers who don’t have access to a vehicle are served by RVTD's bus service. “(The levy) is overdue, but it’s also essential,” said Skillman, of Ashland. Medford Fabrication President Bill Thorndike said most of his employees drive themselves to work, but that’s not limiting his support for the levy as a business leader. “From an economic development standpoint, I am supporting it because I think it’s good for our economy,” Thorndike said. “We’re very fortunate now to have a transportation agency that I think is really dedicated to offering the most service for the least cost, and I appreciate as a business owner that we're being asked to contribute our fair share through property taxes just as homeowners are, just as riders pay the fare when they ride.” “One of the best ways to fund anything is everybody shares a little bit of the cost,” he said. RVTD board member Bill Mansfield of Medford said the Medford/Jackson County Chamber of Commerce and Ashland City Council are among entities that support the levy. “We think we're not only performing a service for all these people that need it, we think we’re performing a benefit for the economy,” Mansfield said. The district was established in 1975 and began offering bus service in 1977. In the 2004-2005 fiscal year, RVTD had 1,182,925 riders when fares were $1 each. In the 2013-2014 fiscal year, when fares were $2, there were 1,402,528 riders. According to RVTD statistics, 42 percent of passengers use the service five days a week, 31 percent of passengers indicate they wouldn't make the trip without the bus, and 29 percent of passengers use the bus to go to work or college. Reach freelance writer Sam Wheeler at [email protected] . By Sam Wheeler for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Sam Wheeler for the Mail Tribune Posted Oct. 16, 2014 @ 5:49 pm Updated Oct 16, 2014 at 9:23 PM » 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. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2014 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