I want to thank the town council members and opinion letter writers for their response to my ad on a safety fee. As one of them stated, nothing is set in stone.
Maybe it could be a public service tax? I will find out whether a general law town has the authority to create such a tax. Of course, I still want the people to vote on it.
It’s interesting – when the government wants something, they always find a way. Many things formerly illegal are now deemed legal.
In the letter “Misleading,” the writer stated, “The town council has no authority to apply, collect or enforce any kind of a fee or tax applied in proportion to property value.” How, then, do they have the authority to do so with their primary property tax?
If, as I expect, the town council and supporters of a town property tax continue to reject any alternatives, then the people will just have to vote down, for a third time, a town property tax. I am sure the lawyers can find a way to allow a specific tax, like those that are already on our yearly property tax bill.
I believe there are enough people like myself in Fountain Hills who do not like signing a blank check! Think about this: It only takes four council members to pass a budget or to approve funding of something they want. Case in point, how about approving a $40,000 study for the lagoon?
Isn’t it amazing how we got through the worst recession since the Depression without a town property tax? And how did the town council incorrectly predict a shortfall in the 2016 budget, when we have over $700,000 in surplus?
