Top 10 reasons to support the property tax
1. Mesa does not waste tax dollars. The City of Mesa collects less taxes (including utility fees) per household than Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale and Phoenix. Of the 50 largest cities in the country, Mesa is 48th when you calculate the cost of Government. The annual household tax collection in Mesa is $1,230.50, per year. Gilbert is 9.4% higher, Tempe 18.9% higher, Chandler is 21.4% higher, Scottsdale is 26.3% higher, Glendale is 32.4% higher and Phoenix is 33% higher.
2. Future growth requires a property tax. It costs about $1million dollars per year to operate each additional fire station. In 2005, Mesa fire calls load increased by 9%. Despite the increase in service demand, the Fire Department has not received any new units in over 3 years. In 2005 the average response times for Mesa increased by 10 seconds. The City?’s current budget plan, without a property tax, calls for an annual increase of $650,000 for the entire City budget ?– that is not enough to keep pace with future growth, especially in the rapidly expanding parts East Mesa. Without a property tax Mesa may have the money to build new capital facilities in these areas but doesn?’t have the budget to staff them.
3. Increasing the sales tax without a property tax does not fix the problem. From 2004 to 2005 Mesa?’s sales tax collections increased 6.39%. Phoenix?’s rose by 9.3%, Scottsdale?’s by 11%, Chandler?’s by 11.8% and Gilbert?’s by 23%. Mesa is no longer the shopping hub of the East Valley. Other cities are growing their sales tax bases and getting bigger and bigger shares of State shared revenues. Relying on sales tax, and state shared revenues to pay for future growth is a losing proposition.
4. Mesa is the largest city in the country without a property tax. Property taxes are deductible. Utility rates make up for 32% of Mesa?’s operating revenue. The City has increased utility rates to pay for essential city services. None of those rate increases or the sales tax collections are tax deductible. The property tax is deductible on both your Federal and State income taxes.
5. Property Tax proposal is caped at $30 million per year with a 2% inflation adjustment. To change that cap would require another vote of the people. Additionally voters in May will be asked to approve Proposition 101 which creates an independent City Auditor that reports directly to the Council and is responsible for making sure that tax dollars are spent properly.
6. New growth will finally start paying for itself. The Council stipulated that new homes and businesses will be added to the tax rolls as they?’re built. A property tax essentially requires that new tax growth pay for itself and broadens the tax base out to include others who currently aren?’t paying taxes.
7. The City has already cut $51.5 Million from its budget since 2001. Without a property tax the City will be forced to make additional cuts in June of this year. The City has already eliminated the green sweep neighborhood dumpster program, reduced library services, reduced hours for recreation centers, eliminated Mesa Gang prevention program, eliminated police programs, and reduced public swimming pool programs.
1. Mesa does not waste tax dollars. The City of Mesa collects less taxes (including utility fees) per household than Gilbert, Tempe, Chandler, Scottsdale, Glendale and Phoenix. Of the 50 largest cities in the country, Mesa is 48th when you calculate the cost of Government. The annual household tax collection in Mesa is $1,230.50, per year. Gilbert is 9.4% higher, Tempe 18.9% higher, Chandler is 21.4% higher, Scottsdale is 26.3% higher, Glendale is 32.4% higher and Phoenix is 33% higher.
2. Future growth requires a property tax. It costs about $1million dollars per year to operate each additional fire station. In 2005, Mesa fire calls load increased by 9%. Despite the increase in service demand, the Fire Department has not received any new units in over 3 years. In 2005 the average response times for Mesa increased by 10 seconds. The City?’s current budget plan, without a property tax, calls for an annual increase of $650,000 for the entire City budget ?– that is not enough to keep pace with future growth, especially in the rapidly expanding parts East Mesa. Without a property tax Mesa may have the money to build new capital facilities in these areas but doesn?’t have the budget to staff them.
3. Increasing the sales tax without a property tax does not fix the problem. From 2004 to 2005 Mesa?’s sales tax collections increased 6.39%. Phoenix?’s rose by 9.3%, Scottsdale?’s by 11%, Chandler?’s by 11.8% and Gilbert?’s by 23%. Mesa is no longer the shopping hub of the East Valley. Other cities are growing their sales tax bases and getting bigger and bigger shares of State shared revenues. Relying on sales tax, and state shared revenues to pay for future growth is a losing proposition.
4. Mesa is the largest city in the country without a property tax. Property taxes are deductible. Utility rates make up for 32% of Mesa?’s operating revenue. The City has increased utility rates to pay for essential city services. None of those rate increases or the sales tax collections are tax deductible. The property tax is deductible on both your Federal and State income taxes.
5. Property Tax proposal is caped at $30 million per year with a 2% inflation adjustment. To change that cap would require another vote of the people. Additionally voters in May will be asked to approve Proposition 101 which creates an independent City Auditor that reports directly to the Council and is responsible for making sure that tax dollars are spent properly.
6. New growth will finally start paying for itself. The Council stipulated that new homes and businesses will be added to the tax rolls as they?’re built. A property tax essentially requires that new tax growth pay for itself and broadens the tax base out to include others who currently aren?’t paying taxes.
7. The City has already cut $51.5 Million from its budget since 2001. Without a property tax the City will be forced to make additional cuts in June of this year. The City has already eliminated the green sweep neighborhood dumpster program, reduced library services, reduced hours for recreation centers, eliminated Mesa Gang prevention program, eliminated police programs, and reduced public swimming pool programs.
