Mike Zinkin: No Property Tax

Mayoral candidate Mike Zinkin has issued a statement regarding Property Taxes for Oro Valley. Mike says no.

He believes that there's more that can be done to reduce cost before a property tax, or any other tax for that matter, should even be considered.

Instead of more taxes, Mike advocates a hard look at how Oro Valley does things. It's time to "reengineer" the business of Oro Valley.

Did you know, for example, that the Oro Valley Police Department keeps the proceeds of the sale of "seized goods"? That this money is used at their discretion? Why, Mike asks, aren't these funds under the town's control?.

Did you know that Oro Valley can save money by reducing its energy footprint with simple things like shutting off computers at night? Or shutting off lights?

Clear here to learn more by reading Mike's statement.

Ten Years Too Many

Hizzoner the Mayah For Life Paul "Looney Tunes" Loomis' announcement that he will run for yet another term is bad news for Oro Valley. As noted in an Explorer article, costs per resident of running Oro Valley have increased over 2.5 times from when he took over in 1998.

It's ten years too many.

This from a Mayoral Candidate Mike Zinkin mailing:

"During the incumbent mayor's term in office, Oro Valley gave away sales and bed tax subsidies, which by 2009 were costing Oro Valley taxpayers $1.2 million per year.

We can expect the incumbent mayor's appetite for increased taxes and spending to continue. He has caused division in the most recent council by:

• Spending an unbudgeted $11,000 for his trip to Europe
• Voting to let Oro Valley taxpayers subsidize new development
• Voting against suspending sales tax subsidies to developers, after such subsidies had been ruled unconstitutional
• Raiding the town's contingency reserve funds to balance the budget, against town policy, and against the recommendations of the town manger
• Voting against creating a volunteer Economic Development Commission
• Voting against creating a volunteer Sustainability Commission
• Firing without cause a dedicated, 18-year manager, which cost the taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in severance pay and replacement costs
• Announcing his desire to double the utility sales tax and institute a property tax"

Loomis is "Mr. Tax and Spend".

Even if you think he did a good job overseeing Oro Valley during its growth years (and we don't think he did) he is certainly not the leader for a mature, slow growth community.

Time for a change?

You think?