I always considered myself an “equal opportunity” newspaper editor, so I should be the same as a letter writer…
Last week I took a slim majority of the Town Council to task for firing then Town Attorney Andrew McGuire, but this week I’ll heap praise and kudos on the full council.
They unanimously voted to call for a May 2018 election to allow registered voters to weigh in on a proposed property tax for the Town of Fountain Hills.
It’s about time…
Previous town managers and finance directors have been talking about impending revenue issues for the past decade, but it might have taken a lame lagoon idea to spark enough fear into the hearts of reasonable men and women to realize that a town property tax might not be the death of civilization as we know it.
No doubt you’ll hear from a few naysayers over the next six months about how a property tax will be our downfall, but as with such things as the school budget override and previous bond votes, etc., I consider these things as “investments” in our community and our future.
I’m proud of our town and I want to enhance its appearance, its programming, its parks and many other services.
But most of all, we need to maintain our basic infrastructure and pay for such necessities as police protection and fire and emergency medical services without wiping out other stuff.
It’s a near miracle the Town of Fountain Hills has survived for decades on state-shared revenues and sales tax proceeds.
So congratulations to the Town Council for finally seeing the light and giving voters a chance to have their voices heard.
It took three elections for incorporation to pass, so this important vote stands a better chance as well. Let’s roll!
