The Times’ front-page, continuing informational series on the proposed property tax is informative and an important expression of our First Amendment rights.

It also amounts to big, free campaigning for our town council’s pet property tax proposal, a $7 million annual tax, in perpetuity, that they have unilaterally decreed is necessary; then rushed to the ballot, bent on securing and perpetuating their program of careless, freewheeling spending of money that will never shut off.

The sensible, opposing, no-tax viewpoint does not enjoy a free front-page campaign. However, many astute citizens have given excellent analyses on these pages and on local online venues such as Nextdoor Fountain Hills.

Robert Gomez’s letter showed that bond issues are a far better alternative to a hefty, permanent, ever-increasing property tax. Bonds are specific, targeted and efficient, showing citizens what they are paying for. A property tax is not. It can be spent on anything; in part a big slush fund for government to play with. It encourages the type of gross, wasteful overspending our council has become accustomed to.

We have witnessed a continuous stream of the council’s crazy, spend-to-the-moon policies and projects, all well documented here. The most recent reminder is of the frivolous wayfinding signage project with $95,000 upfront fees paid, and total installation cost unknown but estimated at $150,000. Why? The existing signs already function perfectly.

Council has pushed hard its scare tactics, as Nancy Plencner’s and David Adler’s letters eloquently point out, of crumbling infrastructure and declining property values, should the tax not pass. This is nothing but sheer propaganda. Wake up, people!

Write a big check every year to fund big government forever? Vote no. We need instead thoughtful planning, budgeting and spending through targeted, entrepreneurial, capitalistic fiscal policies. Vote no on the tax.