I just paid my $36 environmental tax – sorry, I meant fee – approved by the Fountain Hills Town Council in November of 2014.

At that time, current Mayor Kavanagh and Town Council members Yates and Leger voted against it while Brown and Hansen voted in favor of it (Elkie and Dickie, who are no longer on the Town Council, voted in favor of it, too).

Those who voted in favor of this tax – sorry, I meant fee – claim it is needed for complying with federal and state mandates, as well as to maintain the safety of the town’s residents.

The fact that the Town Council has discussed an environmental tax – sorry, I meant fee – since 2007 would indicate these federal and state mandates are not new and the town has been paying for these services previously from other revenue sources.

My guess is the town is experiencing a budget shortfall and the Town Council feared a public backlash of a “property tax” increase, so they assessed a “property fee” instead. This new tax – sorry, I meant fee – will generate approximately $540,000 of new revenue for the town, which is ultimately why it was passed.

I can only hope this gets put on an upcoming ballot for the citizens to vote on; perhaps the same ballot that allows us an opportunity to vote out of office Town Council members Brown and Hansen.