“Pay As You Go” Is Down and Out

"Pay As You Go" Works for The Oro Valley Municipal Golf Community

“Pay As You Go” Policy
The Oro Valley Town Council decided in November to continue a policy the town has had in effect since the town purchased 45-holes of golf from Hiremath campaign contributor, Humberto Lopez.

The policy relates to how to fund golf course and community center (formerly the “club house”) improvements. The policy is that all improvements should be paid from the existing revenue stream. The revenue stream is 20% of Oro Valley’s sales tax revenues (a "half cent" sales tax levy) plus revenues earned from fees and memberships.

“Pay As You Go” pays for golf and community center improvements
Many, however, don’t understand this option in general or how it works.

We’ve created a one-minute primer that explains what it is and how it is being applied to pay for golf and community center improvements.


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Axe the Tax Issues Press Release

PRESS RELEASE

Axe the Tax has a Better Game Plan for the Town's $2 Million Budget Surplus

Why impose a $28 million property tax when a surplus exists to build fields now?

Oro Valley — September 26, 2017: Axe the Tax, a group of concerned Oro Valley residents opposing the Naranja Park Bond-Proposition 454, is releasing a response to the recent Fiscal Year 16/17 results reported by the Town of Oro Valley. The town reported a “strong financial position” and a surplus of $2 million for this past fiscal year.

“We propose that the Town’s $2 million surplus be spent on Little League baseball fields for our youth,” stated Jim Horn, Axe the Tax PAC chairman. “Clearly the town has the means to accomplish this without a property tax on its residents.”

Petitioning for fiscal responsibility from town officials known for the financially irresponsible purchase of the El Con golf courses, Axe the Tax has highlighted that the $17 million Naranja Park Bond would ultimately cost taxpayers a total of $28 million, with interest, over the 20-year life of the bond. As it stands, only $5.6 million will be allocated toward seven sports fields. Two multi-sports fields are currently under construction with funding spread over two fiscal years 16/17 and 17/18.

Axe the Tax is confounded by the proposed bond following the town’s announcement of a $2 million surplus. These results confirm that the town has existing resources to continue building Naranja Park sports fields with the “pay as you go” strategy that has been utilized since 2008 when Oro Valley taxpayers voted against a $48.6 million bond for the Park.

Instead of imposing an unnecessary property tax to pay for this bond, Axe the Tax recommends using the $2 million surplus for an immediate start of construction of the baseball complex on a “pay as you go” development plan. The entire field area should be graded and irrigation should be installed. Two fields should be completed with lights.

In the fiscal year 18/19 budget, $1 million should be allocated to construct a third field with lighting and to build a concession stand with restrooms. This will complete the three-field Little League complex. Axe the Tax in Oro Valley stands by its position that the Naranja Park Bond-Proposition 454 is an unreasonable and irresponsible property tax for homeowners and commercial properties when the Town has resources to “pay as you go.”