Oro Valley: Tax Town USA?

We think its time to take the issue head on. Simply put: At what point will it be too expensive to live in Oro Valley?

• Our town, which might also be called Tax City USA, is facing of serious fiscal challenge.
• Our town is the 146th largest employee in Southern Arizona, with an $18 million payroll and 300 full time (equivalent) employees. That works out to over $61,000 in annual salary per employee. Hey, we want one of those jobs!
• Our town is considering building a $150 million Naranja Park, if every item put forth by the Parks and Recreation Department is accepted. "To cover construction costs, the town would have to issue bonds and levy a secondary property tax, which would require voters' approval in a bond election". Read about it here.! And here.
  
• Our town already found a way to tax us for “additional” personnel. It’s the wonderful “Utility Tax”, coming in April. Outrageous! As one of our bloggers points out: "The tax was heralded as necessary to cover the cost of hiring 18.5 additonal FTE's that the Department Heads had requested in their original 2006/2007 budget."
  
• For many of us, our fire protection cost doubled when our part of town was annexed by Golder Ranch Fire District. Additional cost: Well over $300 for some of us. Thanks, once again, to the Town Council!
  
• Add to all this, the hosing we’re getting from Pima County. How about the 25 to 40% property valuation increase we all got in the mail last week. We can’t wait to see our property next tax next year!
  

Seems to us that Oro Valley is an expensive place to live. Our politicians have their hands are in our pockets. And there's no end to their greed.

Well, we don’t like it when someone puts their hands in our pockets. Especially given that many of us moved here to retire. We live on fixed income. We don’t have a source of additional money to pay for increased taxes. Guess we’ll have to cut back on the luxuries like food and medicine. Or maybe get one of those low-wage, part time jobs at the proposed WalMart.

Time to bring fiscal responsibility to the forefront. Our Town Council needs to act fiscally responsibly now! NO MORE TAXES. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH!