Bits and Pieces

Oro Valley to get $7 million federal grant for La Canada bridge work 

Town Manager Jeff Wilkins announced Wednesday that Congressman Juan Ciscomani was successful in his efforts to get Oro Valley $7milllion for bridge repairs. The appropriation is included in the Congressional funding bill that is awaiting President Trump's signature. This funding has been years in the making.  This is, indeed, good news. 

Street condition survey underway to guide future pavement planning
The Town of Oro Valley has begun a comprehensive inventory of all Town-maintained roads. The town has engaged a specialized contractor to collect detailed imagery of pavement and transportation assets throughout the community. Over the next week or so, residents may notice data-collection vans driving local streets during daylight hours. The information gathered will be used by Town staff to evaluate current road conditions and update the Pavement Preservation Program. Town Manager Jeff Wilkins said the effort supports Oro Valley’s long-standing, proactive approach to pavement management, helping maintain some of the best roads in the region. The project is funded through Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF). These are state-shared revenues distributed to cities and towns to pay for street and roadway construction, maintenance, and transportation-related improvements.  (Source: Town of Oro Valley Media Release)

"Crimefighter" focuses on crime prevention, digital safety, and community education

The Oro Valley Police Department’s January/February CrimeFighter newsletter highlights several community safety priorities, including steps residents can take to reduce package theft, guidance for families on safer internet use as artificial intelligence becomes more common online, and upcoming public engagement programs. The newsletter also promotes OVPD’s women-only automotive care classes, answers common traffic and vehicle-related questions from residents, and provides crime statistics for the final quarter of 2025 (panel right), offering a snapshot of calls for service and reported incidents. Several community events and safety programs are also listed, reinforcing OVPD’s focus on crime prevention, education, and outreach. (Source)

Former Oro Valley town manager Greg Caton at center of escalating Scottsdale leadership dispute

Former Oro Valley Town Manager Greg Caton is the City Manager of Scottsdale. He is involved in a dispute with Mayor Lisa Borowsky. The conflict intensified in mid-January after Caton placed the mayor’s chief of staff, R. Lamar Whitmer, on paid suspension pending an internal personnel investigation, prompting Borowsky to accuse Caton of undermining her office and to suggest she may seek his resignation. City officials have declined to release details, citing the ongoing investigation, while Caton’s administration has said the action was required under city policy. Whitmer, a longtime Scottsdale political consultant and adviser with past involvement in high-profile and controversial development proposals, is not a low-profile staff member, giving the suspension broader political significance. Caton served as Oro Valley town manager from 2011 to 2016, later held senior management roles in Grand Junction and Durango, Colorado, and joined Scottsdale as assistant city manager in 2024 before being promoted to city manager the following year. (Source: News Reports)

Cycling partnership between Oro Valley and Marana seen as first of several joint economic efforts

The Town of Oro Valley and the Town of Marana have formalized a long-standing collaboration by approving an intergovernmental agreement that establishes a regional bicycling partnership focused on tourism and economic activity. The agreement builds on years of joint efforts, including events such as the Tucson Bicycle Classic and other regional cycling initiatives, and provides a framework for coordinated planning, marketing, and evaluation of economic impacts. Speaking to the Town Council on Wednesday, Economic Development Director Paul Melcher said he hopes that this bicycling partnership will be just one of multiple economic development activities Oro Valley will pursue with Marana, signaling a broader regional approach to future collaboration. (Source: Town of Oro Valley 2-4-26 Town Council Meeting and Oro Valley Media Release)

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Contrasting Growth Strategies: Oro Valley vs. Marana - A Tale of State Shared Revenue Trends

Marana’s State Sale Tax revenues growing faster than Ovo Valley’s

A reader has provided us with a chart that illustrates the contrasting trends in state shared revenues between Oro Valley and Marana. These revenues encompass funds obtained by the State from various sources like sales taxes, income taxes, highway fees, and more, with a portion of these collections being distributed to cities and towns. The data is intriguing as it offers valuable insights into how different growth strategies affect the financial stability of these two municipalities.

Marana has a high growth strategy… Oro Valley does not

Thus, as one would expect, the data reveals an impressive 84% increase in state revenue to Marana from 2018 to 2022. Marana’s population grew 19% population during the same time period. In contrast, Oro Valley experienced a 6% population growth during the same period. Still, its state revenue grew a substantial 64%.   

Here’s the chart:

Indeed, there is a discernible difference in the growth of state shared tax revenues each town received but… 
Oro Valley and Marana stand as distinct entities with unique approaches. While Marana actively pursues robust growth, leveraging its strategic location along I-10 to attract commercial businesses, Oro Valley, due to its considerable distance from the interstate and the preferences of its residents, takes a different approach. Oro Valley aims for controlled growth without compromising its reputation as an excellent place to live. Additionally, these two towns are notably different in terms of aesthetics. Marana lacks physical allure and is primarily characterized by cluster zoning and flat desert. On the other hand, Oro Valley boasts visual charm, nestled beside the Catalina Mountains. In this regard, there is no comparison between the two communities.

Guest View: Love Contributor ~ Mayor Hiremath omits important details on the Tangerine State Trust Land annexation

An article in the January 3rd Explorer, “Recent Oro Valley land changes to remain in place” discussed the attempt by the Political Action Committee, Keep OV Green, to take the General Plan Amendments passed during the December 6th town council meeting to the voters via a referendum.

One of those amendments was the Tangerine North General Plan Amendment (annexation of 321 acres of State Trust Land north of Tangerine -- between Moore Road and Tangerine).

The Explorer article contained the following comment regarding that annexation:

“Hiremath wasn’t even sure why Keep OV Green chose that property to focus on, because developers may not choose to be annexed into Oro Valley. Pima County and Marana also have the property in their respective general plans.”

Mayor Hiremath’s comment omits important details about prior Council actions for the Tangerine 550. (550 acres at the NW corner of Tangerine and Thornydale). Oro Valley has a serious interest in this land, which now seems to be why the land north of Tangerine is important. Both these parcels of land will be designated as one large Master Planned Community (approximately 871 acres).

The Paper Trail

August 28, 2012: Councilmember Hornat met with the Arizona State Land Department concerning the 550 acres of State Land at Tangerine and Thornydale. (This is evidenced in the letter below from the State Land Commissioner, dated February 27, 2013).

October 2012: The Town of Oro Valley approached the City of Marana with an “Annexation Request” regarding the Tangerine 550. (This is evidenced in the letter below from the City of Marana dated October 1, 2012).

February 2013: State Land Commissioner, Vanessa Hickman, sent a letter to Councilmember Hornat, dated February 27, 2013, outlining three specific items required in order for Oro Valley to move forward with the annexation. Those items are:

1) A no-objection letter from the Town of Marana
2) A waiver of town ordinance requirement for fencing of open range livestock grazing
3) An agreement not to enact or apply ordinances or regulations prohibiting mining on the State Land

Mayor Hiremath is not being fully transparent nor is this as innocent as the mayor would like us to believe. Although Marana has this land in their General Plan, it is false to say that they remain in the picture. I have recently followed-up with the City of Marana and they still support the decision in their letter of 10/1/12 to allow Oro Valley to annex the property.

Letter from the Town of Marana

Letter from the State Land Commissioner