The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County Board of Directors is urging you to Vote NO on the meals tax – #15-180!
Where lodging taxes capture revenue almost exclusively from visitors, (unless the pipes are frozen or the in-laws are in town!) meals taxes are generally bad policy because they shift tax burdens away from those residents who actually demand and benefit from government services. In this case, the service in question is the single most important municipal government responsibility and that is the Police Department.
Stats show that nearly 14% of Oregonians work in a restaurant or restaurant-related industry. It does not require much thinking to understand that to do harm to the restaurant industry is to directly do harm to tens of thousands of individual Oregonians and the Oregon economy as well.
In some cities, restaurants power the entire economy to the point that they have been referred to as the “economy’s best friend.” Restaurants do more than provide jobs and enjoyable destinations for residents and visitors alike. In Jacksonville, restaurants support worthy community and regional causes, are responsible partners in our community’s environment and provide the gathering spots for the social fabric of this small town that’s so important to Jackson County. To place the burden of public safety on the backs of diners and the 13 family-owned restaurants is just bad policy.
Additionally, restaurant spending is also still tied to discretionary spending. This makes tying public safety to a meals tax to a habit or behavior that is very sensitive to changes in the overall economy just plain irresponsible.
You will have a lot of tough choices to make on this November’s ballot…but this is not one of those tough choices…please join in making the right choice and Vote NO on the Jacksonville Meals Tax!
Brad S. Hicks, President & CEO
The Chamber of Medford/Jackson County