Additionally, the Council had a Study Session last evening and discussed community funding.
Why some believe we must contribute to the many entities that, for whatever reason, we have done so in the past is a question we believe, must be addressed.
One example Salette notes is the Critical Path Institute. While their work in "creating innovative collaborations in research and education that enable the safe acceleration of the process for developing new medical products," is a wonderful endeavor, ORO VALLEY IS NOT A PHILANTHROPIC ORGANIZATION.
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Following is from Salette.
Several weeks ago, I asked Oro Valley voters "Which of the following cost-saving or revenue-generating measures is acceptable to you?" All of the cost saving measures polled at 58.3% or greater. Nearly 3/4 of voters (72.1%) wanted to eliminate the Oro Valley Vista. We've done just that. The Vista will now be available online only, saving Oro Valley taxpayers nearly $100,000 in printing and postage expenses.
Nearly 2/3 of voters (64.1%) wanted to eliminate funding for outside agencies. Some of my fellow Councilmembers believed that voters didn't know what "outside agencies" meant. So I ran a subsequent survey asking about funding levels for the specific agencies that were applying to the Town.
A majority responded that several agencies should get zero taxpayer dollars from Oro Valley, including Dance Magnificat (68.8%), Santa Cruz Heritage Alliance (64.7%), and Critical Path Institute (56.1%).
Councilmember Bill Garner and I spent all day last Thursday meeting with the agencies applying for funding. We asked each of them what would happen if they didn't get funding from Oro Valley. The representatives from the Critical Path Institute responded that they would be unable to hire an intern.
Last night, we submitted our recommendations to the remainder of the Council. We recommended that zero taxpayer dollars go to those three agencies, and limited taxpayer dollars (or in-kind staff support) go towards other agencies.
Councilmember Al Kunisch again suggested that voters didn't know what the Critical Path Institute did, and that the Town should go ahead and give them the $25,000 that they were seeking. Mayor Loomis and Councilmembers Carter and Abbott seemed to agree.
If you'd like to see for yourself what the Critical Path Institute does, you can check out their Web site: http://www.c-path.org/
After our discussion on community funding last night, the Council proceeded to discuss revenue sources (read: taxes). In the survey I conducted, none of the listed taxes were acceptable to a majority of the voters. The lowest acceptance was for a 1% food tax (7.3%); the highest was for a 2% rental tax (47.2%).
On May 20, at our regular 6:00 meeting, the Council will be voting on individual budget items. You may wish to attend and address the Council regarding how taxpayer money should be spent, and whether we should increase taxes in the future. To speak, please complete a blue speaker card located on the small table to your right as you enter the Council Chambers, and hand the card to the Town Clerk, who is seated immediately to the Council's left. You can bet that the special interest groups will be there and will want to lobby to get taxpayer dollars.
Whether or not you can attend, you may want to express your opinions as a letter to the editor of the Star (http://www.azstarnet.com/opinion/64475) or the Explorer (http://www.explorernews.com/shared-content/perform/?domain_name=explorernews.com&form_template=letter).
With best wishes,
Salette Latas
Councilmember
Town of Oro Valley
11000 N. La Cañada Drive
Oro Valley, Arizona 85737
Oro Valley, Arizona 85737
Phone: (520) 229-4992
Fax: (520) 297-0428
