Get informed before you vote
Apr 3, 2006
Get informed or just stay in the dark.
Protect your biggest investment for only a couple hundred dollars per year on a house valued at 200K
Since 2001, the City of Mesa has made $51.5 million in Budget Cuts. These cuts are just the beginning of the financial issues on the Horizon. If something is not done, Mesa's future as a safe, family friendly city is in jeopardy.
Consider these facts:
1. Mesa is the largest city in the State without a property tax.
2. Mesa is the largest city in the United States without a property tax.
3. Even with increasing our sales tax rate to 1.75%, Mesa will still have a sales tax rate lower than those of Phoenix, Glendale, and Tempe.
4. Any money paid in a property tax assessment can be tax
What Are We Voting On?
Mesa voters will decide May 16 whether to increase the city's sales tax rate and whether to allow, for the first time since 1945, a primary city property tax. The issues are expected to be among the most contentious, perhaps the most pivotal, in the city's history.
There are four items on the May 16 ballot, three of which relate directly to the city's finances:
?• Proposition 101 would amend the City Charter to create a full-time city auditor to be appointed by the City Council.
?• Question 1 would increase the city's sales tax rate to 1.75 percent from 1.25 percent, beginning July 1.
?• Question 2 would authorize the city to levy a primary property tax that would be capped at $30 million a year.
The other ballot question, Proposition 100, relates to procedures involving the introduction of proposed city ordinances.
What would the money be used for?
The sales tax question specifies that 30 percent of the money would go for street construction, maintenance and operations, and 20 percent for police, fire protection, courts, parks and recreation and other services to be authorized by the council.
The rest of the sales tax money, and proceeds from the property tax, would go toward day-to-day city operations, capital projects, debt-service payments and other obligations.
Without the needed funds we can expect Police, fire and others responders to be cut. We will expect to see the parks and retainers look like desert wasteland because they will not be getting the water or maintenance they need making them unsafe and reflecting the whole neighborhood.
The excuse that ?“I?’m not voting for it because the City doesn?’t know how to manage money?”?…You try to manage one of the largest & fastest growing Cities without property tax?…and see how long it takes to catch up. (Vote for Prop 101 for the independent auditor to control Spending. This person will be responsible for making sure the money is properly spent).
-By Amy
Apr 3, 2006
Get informed or just stay in the dark.
Protect your biggest investment for only a couple hundred dollars per year on a house valued at 200K
Since 2001, the City of Mesa has made $51.5 million in Budget Cuts. These cuts are just the beginning of the financial issues on the Horizon. If something is not done, Mesa's future as a safe, family friendly city is in jeopardy.
Consider these facts:
1. Mesa is the largest city in the State without a property tax.
2. Mesa is the largest city in the United States without a property tax.
3. Even with increasing our sales tax rate to 1.75%, Mesa will still have a sales tax rate lower than those of Phoenix, Glendale, and Tempe.
4. Any money paid in a property tax assessment can be tax
What Are We Voting On?
Mesa voters will decide May 16 whether to increase the city's sales tax rate and whether to allow, for the first time since 1945, a primary city property tax. The issues are expected to be among the most contentious, perhaps the most pivotal, in the city's history.
There are four items on the May 16 ballot, three of which relate directly to the city's finances:
?• Proposition 101 would amend the City Charter to create a full-time city auditor to be appointed by the City Council.
?• Question 1 would increase the city's sales tax rate to 1.75 percent from 1.25 percent, beginning July 1.
?• Question 2 would authorize the city to levy a primary property tax that would be capped at $30 million a year.
The other ballot question, Proposition 100, relates to procedures involving the introduction of proposed city ordinances.
What would the money be used for?
The sales tax question specifies that 30 percent of the money would go for street construction, maintenance and operations, and 20 percent for police, fire protection, courts, parks and recreation and other services to be authorized by the council.
The rest of the sales tax money, and proceeds from the property tax, would go toward day-to-day city operations, capital projects, debt-service payments and other obligations.
Without the needed funds we can expect Police, fire and others responders to be cut. We will expect to see the parks and retainers look like desert wasteland because they will not be getting the water or maintenance they need making them unsafe and reflecting the whole neighborhood.
The excuse that ?“I?’m not voting for it because the City doesn?’t know how to manage money?”?…You try to manage one of the largest & fastest growing Cities without property tax?…and see how long it takes to catch up. (Vote for Prop 101 for the independent auditor to control Spending. This person will be responsible for making sure the money is properly spent).
-By Amy
