Our town is facing a severe financial crunch. That was reflected in the lead article in last week’s Fountain Hills Times. Our town budget is facing a $350,000 deficit next year with the forecast that it will only get worse.

Our present income is not sufficient to meet our expenses. And our projected income will probably diminish while our expenses will inevitably increase. This problem can only be resolved by cutting expenses or increasing income.

Town Council members tell me that the budget has really been cut to the bone. So we either eliminate fundamental town services or increase our income.

I don’t think anyone wants to cut our fire or police protection, close our Community Center or reduce our park services. So we must find increased income.

One proposal, made by Councilman Magazine, is a public safety assessment that would levy a fee against each parcel of property in town, regardless of size or use, with the funds to be earmarked for public safety. This was the proposal headlined in last week’s paper.

I have looked at just about all of the potential sources of increased income. Some are insufficient to meet our needs. Others are politically infeasible.

The public safety assessment could be put in place with the simple vote of four of our seven Town Council members.

If I were still on the Town Council, I would vote in favor of the public safety assessment. It would not be a burden to anyone and would raise enough to get us out of our hole.

I would suggest that those who oppose this proposal, either as council members or as residents, have an obligation to suggest a feasible alternative. Simply saying “No” doesn’t solve the problem.