“I don’t mind paying taxes. With them I buy civilization.” Oliver Wendell Homes, Jr. said that to a colleague roughly a century ago. He later refined the wording a bit, but reaffirmed the idea in writing as an Associate Justice in a 1927 U.S. Supreme Court opinion.

That history aside, our town has current needs and future financial obligations that our council and town manager have clearly quantified. Fire and police protection, adequate maintenance for parks, community buildings, streets, curbs, storm drains and natural washes are all on the list. None of these pay for themselves, and our town lacks mechanisms – like rental car fees, resort bed taxes, add-ons to spring training tickets, or sprawl-and-headcount based state grants – that some neighboring communities can use to hook others into paying their bills. In Fountain Hills, for better or worse, the accountability stays right here.

I have attended meetings, listened to both sides and have done a fair amount of independent homework on the subject. I am persuaded that the revenue and cost projections illustrated on the town’s website are reasonable. Another thing that is reasonable: Determining a way to meet our needs and obligations in a stable and sustainable manner for the long haul. Establishing a primary property tax would accomplish that in a way that sales taxes simply have not in my 30 years of living here.

For the average Fountain Hills homeowner, the additional cost of the property tax will be about $1.50 per day. Further, taxpayers will soon reclaim a portion of that amount as the current environmental fee is retired – it is no longer needed under this plan.

I plan to vote for the property tax and buy my share of civilization. I urge all to join me.