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NOVEMBER ELECTION Talent considers November measures on recreational pot tax, charter revisions Comment By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 25, 2016 at 5:04 PM Updated Jul 25, 2016 at 5:05 PM By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 25, 2016 at 5:04 PM Updated Jul 25, 2016 at 5:05 PM » Social News TALENT — The City Council has agreed to hold public hearings on Aug. 3 on whether to place votes on a recreational marijuana tax and charter revisions on the Nov. 8 ballot. A proposed 3 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana within the city would be dedicated to parks maintenance. Allotment of the revenue would be reevaluated after five years. “We have to come up with funds for parks,” City Manager Tom Corrigan told the council last week. “We have a lot of things that are going to disrepair.” A $2 monthly assessment for parks on city water bills does not cover needs, and the city has no other dedicated source of parks funding. A 10 percent sales tax on recreational marijuana adopted by the city before the November 2014 vote that legalized usage statewide should be repealed, according to the city attorney, if the council votes to send the measure to the ballot. The tax was never collected as officials waited to see how the state regulated marijuana sales. Presently, the state taxes recreational sales at 25 percent and allows cities to establish a tax by vote. The council also decided to consider charter revisions at the hearing that did not include a suggestion the mayor be allowed to vote on all issues. An ad hoc committee on charter revisions began meeting last year and recommended changes to the council. The committee split evenly on whether the mayor should be given a vote. Mayor Darby Stricker said she was disappointed that the council didn’t see the importance of the mayoral vote on issues and that the public should have the option to decide the issue. Presently, the mayor votes only to break ties. “There’s no advantage to the mayor voting except in the case of a tie,” said Councilor Ryan Pedersen. By not voting, the mayor is in a position of neutrality, he added. “The fact that the mayor does not declare a position on every issue through recorded votes is a little bit of a lack of transparency to open government,” Stricker said after last week's meeting. “It does make a difference to the community. They vote for a mayor to drive an agenda.” Other proposed charter revisions include procedures to fill elected city office vacancies, control by the city manager and qualifications for elected office. The council also decided to not move forward with a ballot proposal for a 2-cent-per-gallon tax on diesel fuel sales within the city. The tax was explored after the city received several inquiries regarding establishment of semitruck service centers in the city. In nearby Phoenix, voters approved a 2-cent diesel tax in November with revenues dedicated to road repairs. Engineers had estimated that wear and tear from big trucks on city streets would cost about $500,000 for repairs over 15 years. That city is home to the Petro Truck Stop, which caters to semi trucks. The council would need to approve resolutions sending the measures to the ballot by Aug. 19. Tony Boom is an Ashland freelance writer. Reach him at [email protected]. By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune MailTribune.com By Tony Boom for the Mail Tribune Posted Jul. 25, 2016 at 5:04 PM Updated Jul 25, 2016 at 5:05 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. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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