In her letter to The Explorer published Nov 12, 2007, Oro Valley resident Brenda Ryan raises important questions on Oro Valley's fiscal responsibility.
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From The Explorer Nov 12.
OV residents’ wealth is not infinite
We all must live on a budget, whether we face it today or postpone it until there is a disaster.
The property tax rate in Pima County is one of the highest in this state or in any state. Maricopa County’s is much less. California has Proposition 13. Oro Valley needs to consider our high county tax rate. Our property evaluations for 2008 are 20 percent higher than this year, which portends that next year’s taxes will also be 20 percent higher than they are this year.
We have recently approved a $180-million bond issue for the schools, in addition to the previous bonds for the schools. Pima County plans a $2-billion bond issue in 2008 or 2009. A new Oro Valley water charge begins in February, along with the recently implemented utility tax. Tucson Electric Power wants a 23 percent increase. CAP is mentioning $170 million in new costs. How do we fund millions of dollars in park bonds? The proposed park bond will add approximately $84 a year in taxes to the average home in Oro Valley.
We have read repeatedly that $60,000 is the median annual income in Oro Valley. With that in mind, how can Oro Valley continue to spend without restraint? Where will the money be found?
Pima County’s suburban governments, Marana, Sahuarita and Oro Valley, need money for roads, water, sewers, city employees and services, since the building fees are diminishing. Governments must realize that prioritizing NEEDS supercedes spending on luxuries.
A number of property owners in Oro Valley have told us that they are waiting for the real estate market to improve so that they can sell their homes and move away. They want to move because they feel that their interests are not represented, that the government has runaway spending plans, and they see no end in sight. Fiscal responsibility is just as necessary for government as it is for individuals.
We would all love to have every amenity we can possibly desire. However, these wishes must be prioritized, because the wealth of this community is not an infinite deep pocket.
Brenda Ryan,
Oro Valley
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