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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 Homeless feeding questioned Disc golf course coming to Cave Junction park Human remains found in burning trailer Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Crime, Courts and Emergency Services Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service Barn fire may have been human-caused Emergency services Inmates to get mental health, addiction treatment Missing Medford man found safe in Sweet Home Politics and Elections Cecil, Stricker to face off again in mayor's race Commissioner candidates Talbert, Roberts duel for endorsements Falls: Jackson County sheriff's race isn't over Former sheriff calls Winters' retirement decision 'very wise' Will 'GMO effect' shape election? Education EP school district launches new app Striving to make the grade Fresh produce goes home with Jackson Elementary families State mandates eye exams for kids 7 and younger Eagle Point School District goes silent on gun issue Environment Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt Josephine County ballot measure would ban commercial and government pesticide use Low water exposes Emigrant Lake's past Wagner Creek work would restore streambank Deer-killing disease won't taint meat for hunters State news Nation - World Obituaries Calvin Schaefer Norma Mae Prilliman Elizabeth Anne Jones Jesse Jay Gilchrist Lorraine Antcha Weather Photo Galleries Since You Asked Videos Web Cams Mail Tribune 100 Sports Latest Stories South rebounds with rout of Roseburg Ashland drops MWL boys match to Churchill Hay rallies Pirates past Henley Gadget play gives Grizz win over Comets GP dashes North’s hopes Varsity 541 College Sports Stanford cruises past Washington State High stakes for No. 12 Oregon, No. 18 UCLA Raider men win handily Raiders shut out Eastern Oregon Georgia star Gurley suspended for alleged violation Pro Sports Gordon-led Royals beat Orioles 8-6 in ALCS Donovan hits post in US swan song Birdie binge puts Laird in front at Frys.com Giants-Cards: Here we go again in NLCS Colts hold on for 33-28 win over Texans Community Sports Business Latest Stories Ranchers offer livestock exchange Lithia buys Clovis dealership Blog: When Life Gives You Lemons... Medford airport has busiest September ever County hopes to spur renewable energy Real Estate News Lithia buys Clovis dealership Rental vacancies increase Jackson County real estate sales, prices continue rebound Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Medford's Pixel Productions moves to new quarters People In Business Transportation Lithia buys Clovis dealership Agriculture Ranchers offer livestock exchange 1-800-Flowers CEO: Labor shortage an issue for Harry & David Pallet Wine Co. expands in downtown Medford Opinion Latest Election Letters, Oct.11 Another View: Congress must act on firefighting budget Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Matthew T. Mangino: Trials, pleas and the burden of proof: A search for justice Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Editorials Another View: Congress must act on firefighting budget Our View: Talbert is the right choice for commissioner Our View: Cheers and Jeers Our View: Measure 86 would allow a prudent investment Our View: Top-two primary would empower more voters Letters to the Editor Election Letters, Oct.11 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 10 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 9 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 8 Letters to the Editor, Oct. 7 Guest Opinions Mt. Ashland is responding to community concerns Siskiyou Plus Spring Bear Hunt: What lies beneath? Guest Opinion: Who's to blame for 2014 wildfires? Guest Opinion: Measure 91 will snuff out local tax measures Is Ashland taking over Jackson County elections? Lifestyle Latest stories Nibbling away at the Earth Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Name that wolf Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Food Community blog: Battered, fried bhaji bring street food to the table Community blog: Kicking it off, a game, a season, or a pint (How about all the above?) Apples and pears make great autumn duo Community blog: Cardamom makes proverbial pairing with pears New owners bring new philosophy at 2Hawk Home and Garden How to create a fashionable painted floor cloth Dear Monty: 7 prepping tips for home showings Harvest your frost-tender tomatoes for storage Fall is a good time to plant certain perennials Start now for a bowl of winter sunshine Health Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Community blog: Listen Like You Mean it! Dr. Murray Feingold: Take precautions to prevent home accidents Health Watch: Make TV time workout time Community blog: Do We Need Steps For Health? 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Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Human remains found in burning trailer ... Fear of orphaned cubs nixes new spring bear hunt ... Fallen White City firefighter to be honored at national service ... Our Opinion: County could help library and taxpayers Allowing library to keep lottery grant would solidify startup and reduce taxes Jackson County voters have repeatedly shown support for their library system over the past couple of decades, twice approving levies to fund the operations and once approving a massive rebuilding of library buildings countywide. MailTribune.com Writer Posted Jul. 6, 2014 @ 2:00 am Posted Jul. 6, 2014 @ 2:00 am » Social News Jackson County voters have repeatedly shown support for their library system over the past couple of decades, twice approving levies to fund the operations and once approving a massive rebuilding of library buildings countywide. Jackson County officials have been less supportive over the years, shifting library dollars to other uses and then cynically declaring that they could no longer afford to support library services. They could ameliorate that sad track record with one goodwill act as the libraries prepare to go their own way following voter creation of a library district in May. They could help the district to get started on a solid footing — and help county taxpayers — by allowing it to keep, for one year, an $800,000 lottery grant that has previously been used for library services. The creation of the library district separates those services from the county, but it comes with initial financial issues. Because the district came into being on July 1 but can't collect taxes until November, it must borrow funds from the county in the interim and then repay those funds. Beyond that, the county has informed the library board that it will not allow it to keep the $800,000 Oregon Lottery grant. Because of the timing issues, the district is faced with funding 17 months of operations with 12 months' of revenues. And that doesn't even allow for a contingency fund that the district not only should have, but will be expected to have by auditors. That kind of financial wall will make it difficult for the district to increase hours, an increase that is particularly needed at its main library in Medford, which is now open only a portion of four days a week. (And for those who question the need for libraries in the digital age, consider that the local system distributed more books and materials with those partial hours than it did with full hours in 2005.) The county pleads its own financial difficulties in saying it will keep the lottery money, but recent events suggest there is more smoke than fire in those statements. Saying the county is in financial straits ignores that it has added $17 million to its reserves this year — and has just been relieved of any obligation to fund libraries, including the more than $5 million it had expected to spend this year. It's also worth noting that nearly one-third of the county's property tax revenue comes from a former library levy that was absorbed into the general fund as the result of a statewide tax measure. Commissioners can say they are looking out for taxpayers by holding onto the $800,000, but the opposite is true. The library district had hoped to levy much less than the 60 cents per thousand allowed under the approved measure, but faced with unexpected revenue losses, it now may have to seek more — perhaps all — of the allowed amount. That will raise the property tax bill for local residents, even as the county continues to sock money away in its rainy day fund, which now totals more than $43 million. Is that looking out for taxpayers or looking out for its own parochial interests? We're sure the current trio of commissioners hopes the library district is successful, and it has given every indication that it will work with the new library board to help it get its feet on the ground. But hoping and helping is mostly talk. Commissioners could walk the walk by allowing the district to keep the $800,000 for its one startup year. 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