Ballot Initiative Would Add 1% Sales Tax For Better Roads

Come Nov 8, we will be electing a new president. That certainly is important. There are other important issues that are closer to home for those of us in Oro Valley.

One issue we've discussed extensively is the Naranja Park Bond. Certainly, that's important to our Oro Valley residents. (As most of you know, we suggest a "No" vote.

There's another issue that, if passed, will affect our pocketbooks.

It is known as "TIME." The Transportation Infrastructure Moving Arizona’s Economy Initiative (TIME) proposes to raise the sales tax from 5.6 percent to 6.6 percent to fund transportation improvements over the next 30 years. It would amount to a 17.8 percent increase in the state sales tax.

For those of us in Oro Valley, it would raise our sales tax to 9.1%. Should we support this initiative?

We'll leave that up to each individual. What we'll get, if it's approved will be more funding for transportation needs, including more roads. That's good. What might not be too good is the fact that Maricopa County will benefit to the tune of almost 50% of the funds, while the "poor sisters" ---those of us in Pima County will receive only 12%, while we pay the same additional 1% increase.

Think about it, and decide if it's worth it, or not.

Read The Explorer article here.
http://www.explorernews.com/articles/2008/07/30/news/doc488f9c56e42b5828814979.txt