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Bus backers hope and worry Photo by Jim Craven RVTD supporters worry that low turnout will defeat the district's tax measure. Voter turnout discouraging so far By Jim Davis Drop off ballots now If you haven't mailed in your ballot for the Tuesday's election yet, then don't. Jackson County Clerk Kathy Beckett said it's too late to send your ballot to her office by mail. Instead, she encourages voters to leave ballots at drop sites throughout the county. Ballots must be received by 8 p.m. Tuesday. The drop sites are: Jackson County Courthouse payment center window -- open 24 hours a day. Jackson County Elections office, courthouse -- 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Ashland Library -- 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Tuesday. Eagle Point Library -- 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. Rogue River Library -- 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For information, call 774-6148. May Schreck would be one of the losers if the Rogue Valley Transit District tax levy fails next week. The 84-year-old Medford woman rides the bus system about twice a week to visit friends to play bridge. "I don't drive anymore," Schreck said. "Traffic got too hard for me so I quit -- of course I'm in my 80s so I should have quit.'' She said she sees students, fast-food restaurant employees, volunteers and seniors on the bus all the time. If the levy fails in Tuesday's election, Schreck knows that RVTD is talking about cutting its number of routes by up to 35 percent. "It won't be as convenient," Schreck said. "I have to wait and see what will happen." RVTD is asking for an operating levy of $1.25 million a year for the next five years. The levy amounts to $17 a year for the owner of a $100,000 home within the service district. The levy would replace a $1.5 million federal grant that will run out this summer that currently pays for a dozen high-use routes. As of midday Friday, about 30 percent -- or more than 22,000 of 70,897 eligible voters -- had returned their ballots, said Jackson County Clerk Kathy Beckett. Now voters need to deliver their ballots at drop sites around the county, because mailed ballots may not reach the clerk's office in time, Beckett said. State law requires that money measures must attract 50 percent voter turnout to pass, except in general elections. The turnout so far is discouraging, said Sherrin Coleman, RVTD's general manager. But she said Transportation for a Liveable Committee -- the political action committee to pass the levy -- is still working to get the measure passed. "They're not feeling like they're going to quit until the end of the election day," she said. The committee has raised more than $2,000 to pay for lawn signs and radio advertisements. RVTD has also gained the support of prominent people such as former Mayor Jerry Lausmann. "We are going on 80,000 population and we don't have a decent transportation system," Lausmann said. "The voters should weigh not just their own benefits, but also the benefits that the tax would bring to everyone in the city of Medford." Suzi Aufderhiede of Ashland made a 30-minute video highlighting RVTD, with interviews of passengers, bus drivers and staff. "Who Says Nobody Rides the Bus" will air about 6 p.m. Monday on cable Channel 31. The levy has also attracted some grass-roots support. Landon Hilliard, a substitute teacher from Ashland, rides the bus, even though he said he could afford a car. He uses the bus when he goes to Medford for work or to the store to buy groceries. Hilliard said he believes in public transportation and its importance to the people who use it most -- the poor, the elderly and disabled. He handed out voter-registration forms until the deadline a couple of weeks ago. He also has been speaking to riders on the bus, encouraging them to pass the levy. "I told people to talk it up," Hilliard said. "If you go to a party tell someone. If you're speaking to your kids, tell them to vote for it." Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 1999, Medford, Oregon USA