As reported and echoed here in several letters this week, the primary property tax met with a resounding defeat. That being the case, we now have to figure out the best way forward for Fountain Hills.

There’s no point in repeating the issues facing the community at this point; you’ve been reading about them for the past several months in great detail. Suffice it to say Fountain Hills is in a tight spot and, if we’ve collectively decided we don’t want to take care of those issues with a property tax, we certainly need to help come up with other solutions.

The upcoming council election is a good place to start. In August, voters will determine the next mayor and several council seats by casting their ballots. With the filing deadline for candidates just a week away, we’ll soon have a clear picture of who is running for what. We encourage our readers to attend forums, read Q&A’s and speak to the candidates personally in order to determine who will be best equipped to navigate the potentially choppy waters ahead.

Outside of that, we owe it to ourselves and our neighbors to stay informed. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, that includes reading up on the decisions the local council will be making, doing our best to understand the important issues, attend meetings and, once again, make our voices heard.

It’s clear that a lot of work needs to get done, and the only way we can accomplish that goal is if we all work together. We don’t have to always agree, so long as we’re always moving forward.