All of the candidates claim they want to attract young families to our town. What kind of a message are the candidates that favor a town property tax sending to these families? Our town is in the top nine highest taxed towns in Maricopa County. Adding this tax may put us up to number one.

Let’s look at the problem honestly. The cost of housing in our town is too high for most families. There is nothing the council can do about that. They cannot force developers to build lower priced homes on their already expensive lots. Maybe we should change the code and allow 17’ wide all-attached homes, 50 in a row, with very little setbacks. They could look like the inner city of Baltimore.

Here is what young families are facing today. Many start with college debt. Both parents must work. They need daycare for younger kids, two cars, health, life, homeowners, fire, and car insurance, sewer, water, electric, cellphones, internet and cable service, food, clothing, gas, medicine, dental work, household supplies, car and home maintenance. Then sales tax on most everything they buy.

What’s left is for maybe association fees, a mortgage and property taxes and fees. Whatever their salaries, they must pay Federal, State, Social Security, and Medicare taxes.

The top 10 best cities for young families in Arizona have homes starting at $131,000 to $241,000. Fountain Hills is 39 out of 41 of the best cities for young families. Add to the list open enrollment, charter schools, and the fact that many of our young people don’t want to get married or raise children today. This is also why enrollment is down in our schools nationwide.

A town property tax will only make it harder for young families to live in our town.