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Jacksonville asks voters for advice The city is considering establishing an urban renewal agency to make infrastructure and public safety improvements By MEG LANDERS Mail Tribune JACKSONVILLE - After searching for ways to finance city improvements for several years, the City Council is turning to voters for advice. Measure 15-28 on the May 21 ballot poses the question: Shall the city of Jacksonville declare that blighted areas exist and establish an urban renewal agency governed by the City Council? Council member Bill Leep says absolutely. "We can't support some of the funding we need to do," he says, adding that an urban renewal district would also enable the city to apply for matching grants. If it passes, the measure would set up an agency to pursue funds for approximately $3.7 million in infrastructure projects, including storm drain, sewer, waterline, transportation and public safety improvements as well as historic building rehabilitation. The urban renewal district would stretch along Fifth Street, California Street and Jacksonville's historic core. The way the financing method works is this: Assessed values in the district are frozen for a 20-year period. Projected assessed value increases would be given to the urban renewal agency and withheld from the other taxing districts that would normally receive it, including Jackson County, the city of Jacksonville, Rogue Valley Transit District, Rogue Community College, Vector Control, Educational Services District and School District 549C. With the passing of Measure 50 in 1997, Jacksonville's property tax rate is $1.84 per thousand. This is one of the lowest rates in Jackson County, says Leep, and is one of the reasons the city has had to defer improvements. But Jacksonville resident Carol Knapp lists the low property taxes as a reason voters should not let the measure pass. She supports a bond measure instead. "If Jacksonville already has one of the lowest tax rates in the county and is becoming one of the wealthier communities in the county, the citizens should be willing to pay for a bond," she says. She says she questions the ethics of the city creating an urban renewal district. "Why should Jacksonville be enjoying such a low tax rate and taking money from other people?" says Knapp, who serves on the council citizen advisory committee. "The citizens have a responsibility to take care of their city." According to Leep, the impact on the agencies is very small. "We believe there would be no noticeable impact," he says. "In a large financial picture, it's minuscule. Every affected party has given us their blessing that this isn't going to impact them." Knapp also expresses concern about the ease with which the council could make changes to the urban renewal plan without having a public hearing. "Once the plan is formed, it can be amended without public input," she says. Leep admits that the council is going to be making some decisions. "We were elected to guide and lead the city the best we can," he says. If the measure passes, the next step is to establish the City Council as the urban renewal agency. Existing city staff would administer the program. The agency would create and then adopt an urban renewal plan, a process that requires a series of public hearings and opportunities for public input. Reach reporter Meg Landers at 776-4481 or e-mail [email protected] . Mail Tribune Home | Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. | Dow Jones & Co., Inc. | Privacy | Contact Us Copyright � 2001 Mail Tribune, Inc.