Last night, the Oro Valley Town Council voted unanimously to begin construction of two multi--use fields and a dog park at the Naranja Town Site. Construction will start shortly and will be completed by the spring of next year. You can read all about the facility by reading our prior post. 17 people spoke in favor of building a new facility. Most were for the proposal, having a vested interest in it because they need to use the fields. Three longtime residents felt that the expenditure on the town site at this time was not appropriate. They wanted the town to wait until after it had completed a study, which is funded, on what to do with the town site.
The facility will cost $2.3 million, most of which will be funded from general fund reserves or the bed tax. Much of this cost is to create the infrastructure for the roadway into the site from Naranja, parking, electric, and water. The fields will use reclaimed water. There will be no fresh water or permanent restroom facilities at the site.
Council Members spoke of the need to complete the full study of the facility as part of the general plan. At least three of the council members spoke of the need to find funding for the construction of the facility. One, council member Joe Hornat said that the town site will need to have something for everyone so that new sources of revenues, which we believe to be a property tax, would be approved by the voters. Council Member Brendan Burns seemed to echo these comments.
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4 comments:
No long-term decisions should be made for the site before the new general plan has been voted upon and accepted. Clearly, long-term decisions will affect the level of need for a property tax. If residents are presented with a general plan that includes both amenities and associated costs with funding mechanisms, we will be able to make informed decisions about how we want to shape our town for the next ten years.
I agree with Christopher Fox!
I will say it again.
2006
The primary reason for the enactment of the 2006 utility tax was insufficient recurring general funds to support 18.5 new positions. The 18.5 new positions had been turned down twice in previous budget votes because of lack of funds. The 2006 Council placated the taxpayers by reducing the tax rate from 4% to 2% and adding a two year sunset clause to eliminate the utility tax in two years.
Unintended Consequences: The Amphi School District had to budget about $33,000 yearly to pay the Oro Valley Utility Tax. This reduced the amount that the Amphi School District could have used in educating our children.
2009
The utility tax was extended on March 4, 2009 for “more revenue” needs because of budget crisis. So much for any sunset promises to taxpayers! The original basic 2% utility tax still supported many of the 18.5 positions (13 in the police department alone) that were added in 2006.
2011
At the May 4, 2011 Oro Valley Town Council meeting a motion was made to approve Ordinance No. (O)11-14, increasing the tax rate from 2 to 4%.
Unintended Consequences: Because of the doubling of the Utility Tax, the Amphi School District had to then use $75,000 of its budget to pay the Oro Valley Utility Tax. This reduced the amount that the Amphi School District can use in educating our children.
2013
At the November 6, 2013 Oro Valley Town Council meeting a motion was made to approve:
Resolution (R) 13-65 authorizing the construction of Naranja Town Park multi-use sports fields and dog park facilities with a cost of $2.3 million dollars. Motion approved.
Analysis:
Let me get this straight!
The Town of Oro Valley took away about $33,000 a year in utility taxes from the Amphi School District Budget to educate our children in 2006.
The Town of Oro Valley doubled and took away about $75,000 a year in utility taxes from the Amphi School District Budget used to educate our children in 2011.
Looks like education money for our children is not a high priority!
The Town of Oro Valley will now spend $2.3 million dollars in 2013 to develop recreational multi-use sports fields for our children and a poop park for our dogs.
Looks like recreation for our children and a poop park for our dogs is a more higher priority.
Does anyone see anything strange in this logic?
John Musolf
John -
Let me get this straight!
You make this out to be a big deal, but in reality you are trying to once again distract from some of the real issues.
Amphi's currently proposed budget has revenues of $90+ MILLION.
The utility tax is nothing to them (or, to be precise, about 0.1% if my math is correct on a Saturday evening while the Cats are playing). Stop making this seem like a big deal.
It's also completely inconsistent with past times when you made a big deal out of the town supporting Amphi via SROs. Didn't you call this a waste? Didn't you suggest the town should withdraw this support from Amphi schools? Please correct me if I am wrong.
Unless you do correct me, please stop being a hypocrite.
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