I support the primary property tax issue. I urge all Fountain Hills residents to vote yes.

A yes vote is not easy. It will reduce discretionary income. A yes vote means less money that can be spent to pay for necessities or just to enjoy a thriving lifestyle. But the values and lessons my Mid-western parents taught me echo in this decision: “There are no free lunches.”

No one will pay to repair Fountain Hills’ streets, except the people who live here. No one will pay to rebuild our 50-year-old fountain, except the people who live here. No one will pay to provide us with strong police and fire protection, except the people who live here. In fact, no one will pay for all of the things necessary to keep Fountain Hills an attractive, independent town, except the residents of Fountain Hills.

Regarding the trust issue, we vote fellow citizens onto our council and we can vote them off. A council member who proposes boondoggles and lagoons can be rejected on Election Day. If members of the professional staff make improper or imprudent financial decisions, they can be fired. What is needed is strong, continued monitoring by vigilant citizens. We can and should demand strict accountability.

Fellow citizens, the responsibility lies with us. We pay the bills. The cavalry is not coming. There is no band of white hats that will shower money on our problems.

We are Fountain Hills.