In some recent letters to the editor, emotional appeals suggest that the new $7 million property tax is the only way to “save” the town. For relationships, emotions count. When it comes to taxes, rely on facts, not emotions.

A 20 percent increase in your total property tax bill won’t make Fountain Hills a better place to live. It would make it more expensive for everyone to live here. It would be a major financial hit for young families and homeowners on fixed incomes. Taxes are a “necessary evil,” but taxes should only be high enough to meet true needs, and no higher.

The town’s five and 10-year budget projections try to justify the new $7 million tax. On the town’s website, you’ll see that the proposed tax is bigger than the town’s own projected budget shortfalls over the next five and 10 years. Budget projections are predictions of the future, based upon assumptions. We can’t predict the future, but it’s safe to conclude that once a tax goes into effect, it rarely goes away. Tax revenues, once collected, are rarely left unspent and refunded to the taxpayers.

Government should provide certain essential services, but it also has the obligation to spend our money responsibly and to convince us how and why it spends it. If you look at the numbers, the facts, the town hasn’t convinced me nor many other homeowners.

The owner of an average home in town would pay over $450 more per year. Bigger homes get bigger tax increases. Most homeowners would see a 20 percent increase in their total property tax bill. We’re talking big money, and the numbers show that it’s too big!

Follow the facts, listen to logic. It’s OK to vote no. For more reasons why to vote no, visit nonewtax.us.