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I have often posted over the past several years that our true local tax demon is Pima County. We live in the most highly taxed county in the State. We recently were greeted by an Arizona Daily Star headline that informed us of a property tax rate hike because the property values had declined. There was no talk about cutting positions. Not a word was mentioned about cutting back on the take home police vehicles. They are mute on cutting the cost of the Sheriff’s Department or conducting a management study.
Now what is really interesting to me is what I heard from those of you who scream at the slightest Oro Valley tax hike: It was a deafening silence. The county just rolls along picking our pocket and you just grin and bear it. That truly puzzles me.
I have met some of you in person. I know many of you are truly good citizens of Oro Valley who simply happen to differ in opinion from me. But taxes are taxes and the money still comes out of your wallet.
So I ask you, why is there not a loud, passionate and sincere effort on your part to speak out against the true tax Satan, Pima County? What services do you get from Pima County that justify this larceny? Help me out here.
Don Cox
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14 comments:
Maybe its because it is easier to fight a town government then a county
government? We are not happy with paying more taxes but in the big picture our taxes here are reasonable compared to most states. But our sales tax here is too high. Seems they get you one way or another :))
Forgot--- also a lot of people are probably more concerned about the economy and jobs
Does cox understand that the people of Oro Valley vote ONLY for one of five representatives in Pima County. That would Ann Day in our district 1.
In Oro Valley, there are seven people responsible to do what's best for the citizens: Six that were elected, and one that was appointed.
The fact is, we can do nothing about the representation of the Board of Supervisors from District 2, 3, 4 & 5 in Pima County.
The people of Oro Valley can do something about the representation in our town.
We should direct our displeasure where it belongs: In the lap of the mayor & Super Majority on the Oro Valley Town Council.
Ms Coyote....Your comment about our taxes compared to others is on point. And we should, and for the most part are grateful for that. However, that does not mean we should be satisfied with the status quo. We should challenge Pima County every chance we have.
Compared to what we pay to Oro Valley, Pima County we are being raped by the latter.
Art....We only vote for a very few state and national representatives too. But that doesn't mean that we should just roll over and allow ourselves to be victimized.
One more comment that I really want to make.........
I am truly appreciative of the new effort of this blog to be more inclusive. I hope that it will lead to a better understanding between us. Let's have some fun with this opportunity.
Well done Zeeman!!!
Don Cox
OVOT has made a valid point concerning county taxes, but as Art points out there is little we can do about it.
I do not know Ms. Day's record on cost cutting.
A review of my property tax document indicates that the various jurisdictions add up what they want and just adjust the taxes. I see the Library district wanted more money this year. Are we still getting a double tax rate on the OV Library? If the town wanted to help the local tax payer, they would end the double taxation for the OV Library.
You can't look at taxes on an individual jurisdictional basis. In other Arizona counties they use other sources of tax revenue.
You also need to be aware that our State Legislators balanced the budget on the backs of the local governments - shifting costs or taking away funding.
Does anyone know what Pima County does for those of us who live in Oro Valley? Not fire protection; not police protection; not parks; not water; not library.
The provide you sewers which you pay for separately. They 'manage' the water flow in the washes. They manage the libraries BUT Oro Valley pays them nearly $200,000 so we can have 'our own'. They provide us all of those nicely paved streets outside of our town limits.
They provide free medical care for the illegals who roll their fully loaded pick ups into the washes. (rather than med-evac them to Nogales.)
Nombe....How shallow and narrow minded of me to forget that solid piece. AND they sink hundreds of thousands every year into Kino Hospital.
The more you think about it the more they should send each of us a small tube of KY Jelly with the bill.
OVOT.
You got that right.
So we receive virtually nothing for the money we pay.
What remedies are there for the Town to opt out of the County?
Sounds crazy but we should be paying nothing for a jurisdiction that provides us nothing.
In other words, can the Town de-certify the Pima County Taxing District when it comes to Oro Valley Residents?
Sounds strange.. but it is worth conversation.
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