This is a response to Gene Mikolajczyk’s letter last week exhorting Town residents to “hide your wallet” when Town officials make community needs known. Understandably, not all residents agree with every decision made by Town officials, but that doesn’t make officials untrustworthy.

Our mayor and Town Council have these positions because we elected them. I have difficulty viewing them as run-of-the-mill politicians, knowing they have full-time jobs or live on retirement to afford holding these positions. It’s a service to our community and they love Fountain Hills. Nobody is profiting financially in these positions.

Full-time Town employees are passionate about the success of our community and bust their brains daily to find creative solutions to overcome financial shortfalls. It’s tricky, wanting to offer all they can to the community so we can thrive while having to continuously cinch the financial belt so we aren’t destroyed by a crumbling infrastructure.

This is a precarious line to walk, and I think they perform miracles regularly for FH. Have one conversation with Grady Miller, Scott Cooper or Paul Mood and you will feel the passion and tension they experience daily as they leap hurdles to keep this town running without a primary property tax.

Mr. Mikolajczyk correctly stated, “The most equitable solution is a primary property tax that would load a large amount of revenue into a general fund for the politicians to spend without restrictions by the voters.” I wholeheartedly agree!

He also wrote, “We have to trust the politicians and the people they hire to spend the funds wisely.” Absolutely! Trusting those politicians means we need to allow a few decisions in which we personally disagree without “hiding our wallets.” Withholding crucial funding from our Town hurts everyone. Please don’t punish all our residents with your wallet. Fountain Hills deserves better.