I have been wondering what we will call our town when the fountain machinery dies and there’s no money to replace it; “No-fountain Hills, Arizona?” Just “Hills, Arizona?” Or maybe “Chaparral, Arizona,” the original proposed name, so I’m told.

Fountain Hills Boulevard would have to be changed to Hills Boulevard. Avenue of the Chaparral could become the new name of our premier street. Too bad the library will have limited hours – the ikebana flower display won’t be very nice if it has to last from one two-day opportunity for viewing to the following week.

The lake liner will eventually fail and then once the lake is drained we will have a huge parking lot. Imagine the dust storms since it will be too expensive to pave over. Then again, who will need such a facility when no one will want to come to the fairs that used to attract so many visitors to shop and to see the fountain?

In thinking about all that could happen, I am convinced that Fountain Hills cannot afford to continue to kick the can down the road. All the studies of our town’s needs point directly to the necessity of a primary property tax totally controlled by us as the only way that Fountain Hills’ budgets are going to be able to meet those needs. Let’s not make the mistake of pushing our luck too far.

We may not like the idea of adopting a property tax, but the time has come to face the facts. We must give the property tax the OK. Otherwise, it will be “Welcome to Hills, Arizona.”