At the final "call to the audience" at the Feb. 4 Council meeting, our good friend Phil Richardson, fed up will the cost for Golder Ranch Fire District service, let the mayor & council know he is generating a petition in an attempt to void the monopoly now held by GRFD.
Phil gave a brief dissertation as to how the actions of a previous council forced Rural Metro out of servicing thousands of OV subscribers, and how GRFD has continually raised their rates without any recourse to the property owners.
We endorse Phil's position and hope he is successful in achieving his goal of getting his neighbors comparable service at almost half the price they are now being forced to pay.
We hope the Town Council will seriously look at the fire service issue, and consider ALL possible alternatives in keeping us safe, at a reasonable cost.
For those that may not know it, our neighbors outside of Oro Valley to our south that are in the recently formed Mountain Vista Fire District, are paying for their fire service at a much lower rate than those of us in the GRFD area, including those that have not yet been annexed.
One might ask "why?"
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Oro Valley Council Says "No" To GOVAC July 4 Funding
Earlier today we did a posting commenting on an Explorer editorial. One issued addressed was a funding request from GOVAC (Greater Oro Valley Arts Council) for $25,000 to hold a July 4 program----not at the grass at River Front Park, but, of all places, the hot asphalt at the OV Marketplace.
Our comment on the earlier posting was:
As to GOVAC (and TREO & NPCCC that Mr. Perry didn't mention,) the question is this: What does Oro Valley get for its money? Should we be subsidizing these entities to the extent we do, especially in these difficult economic times when we are operating with a deficit?
Well, at this evening's council meeting, after lengthy discussion, a vote was taken on the requested funding.
Thanks to Bill Garner, KC Carter, Salette Latas & Barry Gillaspie who showed that fiscal responsibility is more than words, the request was turned down.
Our comment on the earlier posting was:
As to GOVAC (and TREO & NPCCC that Mr. Perry didn't mention,) the question is this: What does Oro Valley get for its money? Should we be subsidizing these entities to the extent we do, especially in these difficult economic times when we are operating with a deficit?
Well, at this evening's council meeting, after lengthy discussion, a vote was taken on the requested funding.
Thanks to Bill Garner, KC Carter, Salette Latas & Barry Gillaspie who showed that fiscal responsibility is more than words, the request was turned down.
Town Deficit For Next Fiscal Year Projected At $4.2 Million
The Explorer in its Feb 3 issue addresses the fact that Oro Valley, as just about every other municipality in the country, will be facing a budget deficit.
We addressed this issue in our posting yesterday and asked our readers to come up with some ideas to save the town money.
Please read that posting Any Suggestions How Oro Valley Can Save Money Would Be Appreciated and offer some ideas.
The Explorer article can be read here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc4988f36fe8271838694388.txt
We addressed this issue in our posting yesterday and asked our readers to come up with some ideas to save the town money.
Please read that posting Any Suggestions How Oro Valley Can Save Money Would Be Appreciated and offer some ideas.
The Explorer article can be read here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc4988f36fe8271838694388.txt
Wow! Dave Perry, Explorer Editor Has Much To Say About Oro Valley
We pointed out previously, that Dave Perry arrived in Oro Valley less than two years ago to take control of The Explorer, as editor & publisher.
Is Mr. Perry familiar enough with the goings on in Oro Valley PRIOR to his arrival? We must wonder. Once again, we believe Mr. Perry writes about this council's actions without regard to previous council's actions or inaction's that caused us much chagrin.
His lengthy editorial of Feb 3 addresses many issues, including EDAs, building fees, Utility Tax and GOVAC among others.
Here are OUR comments:
The Oro Valley Council took bold action in putting subsidy money in an escrow account awaiting a final determination of the constitutionality of the Gift Clause as raised by the Goldwater Institute in its victory in the Az Appeals Court.
Good for this council, and good for them that they are not intimated by the potential threat (as Mr.Perry points out) from developer's lawsuits.
Oh yeah! The people did approve Vestar's $23.2M "giveaway," but many weren't aware we'd get a Walmart for our efforts. That is what is known as "being snookered!"
Let's talk about the Utility Tax. It took 3 times to get that "fool tax" approved by the previous council. It had a sunset clause, and that sunset clause should be honored, not withstanding the fact the tax was implemented to fill additional staff positions, many of them police, that begs the question, "was the tax necessary in the first place?"
Raising building fees was another bold step. Keep in mind, if the previous town council's weren't so "developer friendly," these fees would have been raised incrementally, but that didn't happen.
As to GOVAC (and TREO & NPCCC that Mr. Perry didn't mention,) the question is this: What does Oro Valley get for its money? Should we be subsidizing these entities to the extent we do, especially in these difficult economic times when we are operating with a deficit?
As a side note, for those not aware, you might want to ask about the Hilton's obligation as to the "fireworks display" as part of its bed tax subsidy.
We think the majority of this council is, and must be, much more fiscally responsible than any of its predecessors in recent memory. For that, they should be commended----not chastised!
Please read Dave Perry's editorial here, and feel free to comment.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/opinion/editorials/doc4988ea02c5e2c214944283.txt
Is Mr. Perry familiar enough with the goings on in Oro Valley PRIOR to his arrival? We must wonder. Once again, we believe Mr. Perry writes about this council's actions without regard to previous council's actions or inaction's that caused us much chagrin.
His lengthy editorial of Feb 3 addresses many issues, including EDAs, building fees, Utility Tax and GOVAC among others.
Here are OUR comments:
The Oro Valley Council took bold action in putting subsidy money in an escrow account awaiting a final determination of the constitutionality of the Gift Clause as raised by the Goldwater Institute in its victory in the Az Appeals Court.
Good for this council, and good for them that they are not intimated by the potential threat (as Mr.Perry points out) from developer's lawsuits.
Oh yeah! The people did approve Vestar's $23.2M "giveaway," but many weren't aware we'd get a Walmart for our efforts. That is what is known as "being snookered!"
Let's talk about the Utility Tax. It took 3 times to get that "fool tax" approved by the previous council. It had a sunset clause, and that sunset clause should be honored, not withstanding the fact the tax was implemented to fill additional staff positions, many of them police, that begs the question, "was the tax necessary in the first place?"
Raising building fees was another bold step. Keep in mind, if the previous town council's weren't so "developer friendly," these fees would have been raised incrementally, but that didn't happen.
As to GOVAC (and TREO & NPCCC that Mr. Perry didn't mention,) the question is this: What does Oro Valley get for its money? Should we be subsidizing these entities to the extent we do, especially in these difficult economic times when we are operating with a deficit?
As a side note, for those not aware, you might want to ask about the Hilton's obligation as to the "fireworks display" as part of its bed tax subsidy.
We think the majority of this council is, and must be, much more fiscally responsible than any of its predecessors in recent memory. For that, they should be commended----not chastised!
Please read Dave Perry's editorial here, and feel free to comment.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/opinion/editorials/doc4988ea02c5e2c214944283.txt
Oro Valley Resident Speaks Out On Our "Stimulus Package Priorities"
In a letter printed in the Feb 3 Explorer, OV resident Keath Beifus makes it known he is not happy with the priority of the "stimulus request" list.
I should point out two things. To my knowledge, the Naranja Park wasn't number one, but number three on the list, and also, the Town Council did not opine on the list as presented to our representative in congress.
We do however, agree totally with the writer's point.
Here is the letter.
*************************************************************************************
Local lists of stimulus work are ‘appalling’
I was appalled by the list of projects our communities have earmarked for funding by the current stimulus package.
I am an Oro Valley resident and was stunned see that the first project listed for our community is the Naranja Town Park. Last November, Oro Valley residents sent a clear message by casting a no vote on this project.
We live in a beautiful and vibrant community. Most of us already enjoy the many parks, bike paths, and other terrific outdoor recreational resources, which are nearby and readily available. Any funds our communities may receive as a result of the stimulus package should be applied to resources that we don’t have ... such as an effective municipal transit system, or our municipal vehicles (school buses, refuse, police and city) running on clean domestic fuels like CNG.
It’s time for our elected officials to demonstrate an understanding of the ramifications of the current state of our economy and appropriate use of scare resources. Now is the time to reveal genuine leadership that will give rise to a direction that will carry our communities into a sustainable, independent, and financially responsible era.
Keath Beifus
Oro Valley
I should point out two things. To my knowledge, the Naranja Park wasn't number one, but number three on the list, and also, the Town Council did not opine on the list as presented to our representative in congress.
We do however, agree totally with the writer's point.
Here is the letter.
*************************************************************************************
Local lists of stimulus work are ‘appalling’
I was appalled by the list of projects our communities have earmarked for funding by the current stimulus package.
I am an Oro Valley resident and was stunned see that the first project listed for our community is the Naranja Town Park. Last November, Oro Valley residents sent a clear message by casting a no vote on this project.
We live in a beautiful and vibrant community. Most of us already enjoy the many parks, bike paths, and other terrific outdoor recreational resources, which are nearby and readily available. Any funds our communities may receive as a result of the stimulus package should be applied to resources that we don’t have ... such as an effective municipal transit system, or our municipal vehicles (school buses, refuse, police and city) running on clean domestic fuels like CNG.
It’s time for our elected officials to demonstrate an understanding of the ramifications of the current state of our economy and appropriate use of scare resources. Now is the time to reveal genuine leadership that will give rise to a direction that will carry our communities into a sustainable, independent, and financially responsible era.
Keath Beifus
Oro Valley
Citizen Group To Discuss Future Of Oro Valley Library
In a recent poll we did, Give The Library To Pima County the vast majority of those of us that responded said it is foolish to keep the OV library under our control when we are paying Pima County taxes for its operation.
As Council Member Bill Garner noted: “It’s not whether it’s worth the cost, but if it’s a duplication of efforts.”
You can read all the details, including the committee members appointed in the Feb. 3 Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc4988f26c76258459556023.txt
As Council Member Bill Garner noted: “It’s not whether it’s worth the cost, but if it’s a duplication of efforts.”
You can read all the details, including the committee members appointed in the Feb. 3 Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc4988f26c76258459556023.txt
Oracle Road Widening From Tangerine- To Pinal Scheduled To Start Late 2011
As reported in the Feb 3 Explorer, ADOT indicates that the extension of the ongoing Oracle road project from Calle Concordia to Tangerine road is scheduled to start in late 2011. That portion will go north from Tangerine to the Pinal County line, a distance of 5.6 miles.
Read the particulars here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc4988f18dbc53d038870221.txt
Read the particulars here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/doc4988f18dbc53d038870221.txt
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