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October 31. 2014 12:01AM Since You Asked: Where is the Extension Center tax? I just got my tax bill, and something seems to be missing. Last May, Jackson County voters approved a service district for the Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center, but I don’t see it listed on my tax bill. I know you folks at SYA can research anything and will extend every effort to get an answer, so please let us know if we’re paying for the Extension Center. — Jack D., Jacksonville That does seem a bit odd, Jacksonville Jack. We contacted Phil VanBuskirk, superintendent for the Extension Center. “As soon as I got my tax bill at noon last Saturday, I said, ‘What happened here?’ ” He said he couldn’t see any reference to the 5 cents per $1,000 rate that the Extension Center was supposed to receive. “Much to my surprise, I did not see my district,” he said. After contacting Jackson County, VanBuskirk learned that the extension service money was lumped into the overall amount collected by Jackson County. Jackson County Assessor Josh Gibson said he ran out of room on the tax rate sheets that were mailed out. The county received 2.0099 cents per $1,000, but the new tax statement stated 2.0599 per $1,000, reflecting the Extension Service money. “Next year, we are going to redo it so it’s its own line item,” Gibson said. The county estimates the Extension Service will receive $871,736 from the taxes. VanBuskirk said there is no possibility that the county could use the Extension Service money for another county service. “If they do not give the dollars to us, they cannot collect the dollars,” VanBuskirk said. Send questions to “Since You Asked,” Mail Tribune Newsroom, P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501; by fax to 541-776-4376; or by email to [email protected]. We’re sorry, but the volume of questions received prevents us from answering all of them.   http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20141031/NEWS/141039968 © 2015 Copyright © 1995-2011 Crain Communications Inc. All Rights Reserved. Terms of Use Privacy Statement -->