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Letter: Vote ‘no’ on 15-210 and 15-211

October 6, 2022

Please be aware of Measure 15-210 which will amend the Ashland City Charter to delegate all authority to oversee Ashland Parks and Recreation employees to the city manager. This authority currently resides with the Ashland Parks and Recreations Commission (APRC).

The commission is a five-member board that is elected by the voters in Ashland. Our City Charter has been in effect for more than 100 years with our beautiful, well-cared for parks as the result. This amendment would effectively eliminate the current elected commissioners who have so diligently worked to ensure Ashland continues to be one Oregon’s most livable cities. We urge a NO vote.

Measure 15-211 would send the majority of the Food & Beverage Tax into the city’s general fund with no restrictions at all. The Food & Beverage Tax has always had a designated use mandated by the voters, such as Parks Improvements (currently 25% of Food & Beverage Tax) and paying for the Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades which were paid off last year. We urge a NO vote on this referendum so that Ashland residents can continue to decide how these funds are used.

John & Cori Frank

Ashland

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Bert Etling

Bert Etling is the executive editor of Ashland.news. Email him at betling@ashland.news.

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