My View – October 2018
“I live in Rogue River and visit JV often. I love South Stage Cellars and the shopping. If this meals tax gets passed, I will no longer come to this darling town.”
“My friends and I visit Jacksonville often and dine there regularly. Eating out has already begun stretching my limited budget. A meals tax would put it over the edge. I’m not saying I would never eat there, but it would be far less often. Besides, it’s not a fair and equal tax.”
“When Ashland passed the meals tax, the majority of locals started boycotting the restaurants: I was one of them.”
I’d like to thank our Facebook friends for inspiring this column. During the past few months, I’ve received hundreds of similar comments from every corner of Southern Oregon. Unfortunately, the authors of the meals tax refuse to believe this proposed tax would negatively impact the Jacksonville business community. They like to tout that we are a “tourist town” yet they’ve failed to provide evidence that a meals tax, funded by tourists, can adequately fund the police department. When it comes to proof, they’ve ducked every serious question and use guestimates and gimmicks to sway the electorate. Rather than providing actual, audited restaurant receipts, their ballot Argument Statement asks us to trust that:
Conservative statistical analysis of Jacksonville restaurants revenue indicates that the proposed Meals Tax will match or possibly exceed the Surcharge revenue.
Don’t be fooled. The only “statistical analysis” they used to project yearly restaurant sales was counting seats and making up wishful numbers that look good on paper but have no basis in reality.
We must protect the integrity of the Jacksonville Police Department—join me and our civic leaders by voting NO on ballot measure 180. If it passes, it will be a true “180” and a departure from everything Jacksonville stands for.
For a decade, I have openly advocated for shopping, dining and playing “local.” I have also advocated for and against a number of issues such as Regional Problem Solving, the MRA/City land swap, creation of Forest Park, development of the Courthouse property, and have recommended a slate of excellent mayoral and council candidates.
Despite these critical issues, in my view, the most important issue to-date is the proposed meals tax. Funding our Police operations by taxing pizzas, burgers and coffee will not work here. Jacksonville is not Ashland or Yachats. Jacksonville is a town anchored by locals and this tax scheme is a risk none of us can afford to take.
Please, don’t ruin Jacksonville—Vote NO on #180 for the security of our Small Town with Big Atmosphere.
Whitman Parker is Owner and Publisher of Jacksonville Review and Southern Oregon Wine Scene magazines.
I lived on Conestoga Circle above Jacksonville for 10 years. I now live in east Medford. Was a regular at the Bella and the Back Porch. I still visit both of these establishments occasionally. If the meals tax passes I will still hike the Woodlands Trials but will skip the restaurants and just spend my money at restaurants in Medford. If the tax passes J-Ville will see some but not all of its restaurants close. It happened in Ashland and it will happen in much smaller J-Ville.