By John Taft

Grants Pass, OR (7-27-02) -- It’s simple: parks are nice, park taxing districts are bad, and here’s why. The group that put this bad idea together is willing to place family homes at risk to pay for their special social agenda. A taxing district is permanent and could increase yearly without a vote of the people. This unacceptable tax, if approved by voters, would start at $78 for each $100,000 of property value. This is in addition to the taxes already in place including schools, county services, etc. Under adverse economic conditions, sickness, or injury a family could be evicted from their home and have it legally sold on the courthouse steps to pay back taxes. Would a friend do this to his neighbor?

A dictionary defines an enemy as, "One who opposes the purposes or interest of another, an opponent." Therefore, only an enemy would attempt to tax a family home by putting it at risk of seizure to promote his social agenda. Friends don’t do that. Property tax increases can be a two edged sword in that they fund the promoters’ social agenda, and tend to force low-income families out of the area. This Park Taxing District may be intended to do both.

A new Political Action Committee, Josephine County Tax Stoppers, will do what it can to protect families from the ravages of another taxing assault on their homes. You can help protect your home and neighbors by saying no to all new property taxes. It’s the right thing to do.