Still thinking about moving to Medford? (house, construction, income)

[localyocal]

Before you pack-up the family truckster and move on up, you might want to take the time to read this....

http://www.mailtribune.com/archive/2007/0103/local/stories/license-crackdown.htm (broken link)

It's too bad Medford has turned into this. I can understand the need for licensing but to have a city official totally out of touch with the community is disturbing to say the least. I think he missed that left turn at Albuquerque. This might upset some people but I'm going to say it anyway. Medford is a small town....not the big city. The local economy is run by pear farmers...OK..and some retired Californians. So if you are looking for the big city lights in Medford, your not going to find it. Hopefully the local small time government will figure this out before the small time local business packs its bags and moves to friendlier turf. Just an FYI

[Latitudes]

This is just an illustration of what we've talked about on some other threads. Due to tax resistance, cities have to impose ridiculous user fees, filing fees, rate hikes and licensing requirements everywhere they can. You see the same issue with city planning. In the American part of Oregon, public sidewalks are considered part of the public transportation system and are paid for with public revenues, just like public streets. In tax-resistance Oregon, planners attach the construction of sidewalks as conditions of approval on building permits.
Wake up! You can't get away from paying your fair share. Community infrastructure costs money. If we don't pay it in taxes, then we pay it in fees, requirements and rate hikes. There's no free lunch.

[localyocal]

UMMM....not sure what your angle is but I think you've missed the point. Let me spell it out for ya...
Medford wants to issue an $80 business license to anyone operating any kind of small business inside the city limits.
Example: (True story)You have a little web based photo site that you run on your free time, from your house in the town just next door to Medford . Pictures are from areas all around Oregon not just Medford. But you advertise in the local Medford paper. The business nets you very little income. $80 is a little high for such a business, but the response your going to get from the city when you complain is, "guess you shouldn't be in business then." Where is the community support from city officials in this? So based on this, I don't see your point....sorry

[Latitudes]

Originally Posted by localyocal

So based on this, I don't see your point....sorry

The point is money. The voters can limit taxes at the ballot box, but they can't limit license fees or permit fees or water hook-up fees. As a consequence, cities and counties have to come up with bogus schemes for taking in money any way they can to make up for the shortfall, and their choices are limited since ordinary revenue enhancement is a cookie jar that's been given a tamper-proof lid by the voters. That's why they use their regulatory power to hold people ransom. It's almost like paying off the federales in Mexico when they've put a clamp on your car tire. It's a shake-down, but what can they do? Next you'll probably need a license to operate a chainsaw!

[ExNYC]

The pols are just finding another way to raise revenue, as Latitudes points out. They aren't listening to the voters. If the voters don't want to pay taxes for services, then the services should be taken away. Simple stuff. If subsequently they miss the services then maybe they'll vote to raise taxes and reinstate them. If not, they'll do without. They will get the government they deserve.