Whenever residents go to the polls on an issue that affects their taxes, the paramount question is, “What will this cost me?”

The town’s request to authorize $8.2 million in bonds to reconstruct Saguaro Boulevard is no different.

The proposed project cost exceeds the town’s ability to pay from accumulated capital improvement funds and retain a balance for other important projects.

With that in mind, the Town Council voted earlier this year to ask citizens to authorize the sale of municipal bonds for the street project.

So what would the bill for the taxpayer be?

While the town can provide examples based on an average home cost, the amount would vary from property to property.

In this case town officials are estimating the tax levy to be 51 cents per $100 of assessed valuation as determined by the county Assessor’s Office.

Based on that estimate the town is providing the following figures:

Using the assessor’s full cash value of $100,000, the secondary assessed value is $10,000 and that would cost the property owner $51 for the year in new taxes.

Expanding that to a property with a $250,000 cash value, the average annual cost is estimated to be $127.50. For a property valued at $350,000 the average annual cost would be $178.50.

Using tax statements recently received from the assessor, individuals can calculate the estimated cost on their own property.

That is subject to change however, based on changes in assessment over the life of the bond.

In this case the town is proposing to pay off the bonds in five years.

The publicity pamphlet voters received regarding the question provides examples based on commercial and industrial property as well as agricultural and vacant land.

Property owners should also keep in mind that the assessor’s full cash value as it appears on the tax statement does not necessarily reflect the market value of the property.

If voters approve the bond question, staff will work with a bond attorney to prepare and execute the sale of the bonds. Staff is estimating the cost of issuing the bond will be $100,000.

With an interest rate not to exceed 8 percent, the total cost of the bond authorization, including the principal and interest, is $9,672,083.

Ballots mailed

The election is an all-mail ballot and the voting material, including the ballots, is scheduled to be put in the mail tomorrow, Oct. 10, meaning most voters should receive the ballot by the weekend.

The ballot will be sent to all Fountain Hills residents who were registered by the deadline of Monday, Oct. 7.

Fountain Hills Town Hall will be a location for voters to go if they need to replace a ballot that was lost, spoiled, destroyed or they are a registered voter who did not receive a ballot.

Qualified electors may receive or cast a replacement ballot during business hours at Town Hall, Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 6 p.m.

A sealed ballot box will also be available at Town Hall for those wanting to drop off their completed ballot rather than put it in the mail.

These voter services will begin at Town Hall next Monday, Oct. 14.

Town Hall will be open extended hours on Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 5, from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. so people may cast a replacement ballot or drop off one they did not get in the mail.

Voters are urged to drop their ballot in the mail or at Town Hall earlier than Election Day to allow for a smoother and faster tally of the ballots.