The truth about a primary property tax in Fountain Hills
OPINION — A primary property tax in Fountain Hills? No way! How do I know this?
In 2018, I had just completed my time as a student in year two of the newly reinstated Fountain Hills Leadership Academy. Each graduate was to work on a special project as part of achieving graduation. My project was putting a primary property tax on the Fountain Hills ballot in 2018.
Why? It was clear that the town was facing an uphill battle for income to pay for our growing needs. Residents had begun to complain loudly about road maintenance, the lake liner, yellow grass in our parks and the cost of damage from occasional floods. These concerns were stretching our budget beyond our annual income. We wanted growth but were facing the prospect of not being able to support it.
Putting together a committee of registered Fountain Hills Republicans, Democrats and Independents, we got it on the 2018 ballot.
Sadly, it soon became clear that getting Fountain Hills voters to approve this measure would be difficult. While many Fountain Hills residents agreed our town needed a steady stream of income to meet the growing budget challenges, most were adamant about finding other solutions.
Now it is troubling to see signs posted around town saying that four candidates for council want to institute a primary property tax. Not a single candidate has proposed a primary property tax! It is difficult for me to believe that the makers of the red-orange signs in town would create such misinformation. We deserve better. It’s called: Honesty.
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