“Brother, can you spare a dime?,” sung by both Rudy Vallee and Bing Crosby in 1932, served as an unofficial anthem of the Great Depression.

Though the depression is not so great these days, we still have needs that can only be met through a bit of effort by our residents. The first need is new paving and related upgrades to Saguaro Boulevard. This disrepair is evident to all who drive into our community.

Secondly, our schools are aging. Our average school is more than 20 years old, still utilizing the original air-conditioning. In addition, several of our school buses are over 10 years old. It this bond issue fails the problems will still exist and become even more costly to address in future years.

Updating these aging facilities with more efficient systems will actually lower our annual operating costs and save roughly $140,000 per year on utility bills. Voting yes will also offer needed improvements in student safety and security.

Our schools are rated among the best in the state, a fact that we celebrate and a statistic that can only improve our property values.

I was thankful for the citizens who attended the informational meeting regarding these bond issues last week. Each committee did their homework and it was certainly eye-opening and refreshing to see how many individuals care about our community.

Vote yes to repave Saguaro Boulevard and vote yes on the school bond to make sure that the road into the future for our students is paved with more than good intentions.

Voting “yes” on this school bond will result in a $32 per year cost for the average homeowner with a home assessed at $250,000. Can you please spare a dime… a day?