We recently received an email from Pima County Supervisor, Ally Miller, with her thoughts on the Naranja Park Bond. Ally has worked with State Representative Vince Leach on bills to clean up the laws for Publicity Pamphlets sent out to voters because they are misleading. Unfortunately, lobbyists have twice killed these bills.Below is a portion of that email:
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Below are some of the things that I noticed in the Publicity Pamphlet for Oro Valley’s Naranja Park Bond. These are the issues that everyone should understand and question.
1. PURPOSE: “Parks, Open Space and Recreational bonds”
These monies can be used on any parks, for purchase of open space, and any recreational purpose.
The list of amenities and all the renderings listed are nonbinding. The PURPOSE stated above is the only binding use of these funds.
If you want clarity…it must be stated in the PURPOSE.
2. Voters are approving up to 7% per annum Interest Rate.
The calculations were done using a 5% per annum interest rate. Ask the Town for the calculations at the 7% interest rate that voters are being asked to approve. 2% will make a huge difference. (My bill would have required them to show the calculation at the maximum interest rate).
3. They list the average cost per year for a homeowner with a $250K home as well as the estimated cost over 20 years. However, for the 20 year cost, they simply multiplied year-1 times 20 years.
This assumes that your valuation stays at $250K for the entire 20 years.
One of the things that Chuck Huckelberry (Pima County Administrator) does to garner support for bonds (and I will use a Parks and Recreation bond to illustrate) is that he will list every park in the county and list $1 million for each park. This sounds great to voters. They think, “My park will get some improvements. You’ve got my vote.”
Then after the election, he uses all the bond money for one park. Voters are outraged. An audit is ordered but of course it passes with flying colors. Why? Because the audit is focused only on the bond PURPOSE listed in the Publicity Pamphlet.
Allyson Miller
Pima County Supervisor
You can read the Naranja Bond Publicity Pamphlet HERE
