Vigorous opposition unable to stop renewal of Ashland meals tax

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Vigorous opposition by restaurant owners who must collect it was unable to stop the renewal of Ashland's 5 percent tax on prepared food and beverages.

Ashland voters handily approved a 20-year extension of the tax, voting 3,815 to 2,659 in early returns in favor of continuing to collect the money to support wastewater treatment and purchase of space for parks.

At Standing Stone Brewing Company, backers of the tax gathered around a laptop computer relaying numbers from the county elections office and toasted the “landslide” with pints of beer.

“I'm thrilled that Ashland citizens put community before themselves,” said former city council member and Standing Stone owner Alex Amarotico, one of the few restaurant owners to back the levy.

“It means we keep sewer rates at a reasonable level, and everyone takes part in the funding of it,” he said, referring to the contribution paid by tourists as they dine out.

Former Ashland Mayor Cathy Shaw, a prime mover in the creation of the levy two decades ago – and a leader in passage of the ballot measure, said, “It's great news on the parks front. It's close to the only funding stream for park land purchase and the only stream for parks development.

“It's one way the city spreads out the debt burden of wastewater treatment and makes Ashland more affordable,” said Shaw.

Liquid Assets Wine Bar owner Denise Daehler, a vocal opponent of the measure, said she was surprised at the margin in favor, as “everyone we talked to was against it. We worked hard to get the information out. It's disappointing.”

Daehler said she and other restaurant owners would continue working to get the city council to find other sources of revenue because “this tax is a divisive issue in our community.”

- John Darling, for the Tidings