Want to protect our property values? Then keep Fountain Hills affordable. The town is not in debt. It is clean, well taken care of, has great views, a great landmark and a balanced budget. And streets have $2.5 million in repairs ongoing, with no primary property tax.

Raising taxes too high will actually lower the loan qualifications for young families. That won’t protect property values. Families want good schools, low crime and low cost of living. And, what is Fountain Hills’ score?

Underpinning the primary property tax is the town’s “big short” of $64 million. But the big short is made up from a 2006 Great Recession report. Stop! Nobody today relies on 2006 data. And nobody has peer reviewed or audited the big short either, per the finance folks. Why? Because the big short is too high by $20 million and the town wants the $7 million tax to get fat again.

What exactly is in the big short’s $64 million shortfall? Deferred maintenance? But there is no list and no cost estimates published. How many purchases have you made that don’t have a price tag?

Yet tax supporters say they don’t need an explanation for the tax; just vote for it. Folks are not cowed by their empty threats of a cut to public safety (not going to happen). And the tax may actually lower property values. For sure the tax will cost you money. High taxes are bad for business and bad for property values.

The tax can wait. It is too high and waiting will allow for an educated, audited and present-day analysis of town finance trends. Don’t tax property owners based on an unaudited, ancient 2006 report. Mark Twain said it best. Wait, get it right and keep Fountain Hills affordable!