Mesa is in danger of losing valuable funding to repair 54 arterial streets unless we vote YES on May 16.Mesa is eligible to receive $585 Million in regional funds to repair Mesa streets. However, we must match those funds with $251 Million local funds. Mesa doesn’t have those funds. The answer lay in the May 16 vote to increase taxes.
Mesa deserves to be the same safe family oriented city it has been. We can help. Safe streets are one of those areas that must be maintained to keep our city and our families safe. Clearly, the safety of Mesa is at risk unless we vote YES on questions 1 and 2.
The City of Mesa was at risk when they decided to raise the Sales Tax in 1998 with the majority of that revenue earmarked to build the expensive Mesa Arts Center. The City Council knew or should have known the potential growth of the City and instead of asking for more taxes to build a Center, should have earmarked the revenue for future City Essential Services.
The Arts Center currently does not pay for itself, still. Now they want more taxes to pay for roads, etc.
This is a like a child blowing his allowance on games and candy, then asking for MORE money from Daddy and Mommy. Why? So the child can still buy games and candy but with an excuse that he now has to start his college fund after years of blowing his allowance on less important things.
Why the City of Mesa now is asking for a permanent property tax when they bungled revenue on something that now has to be subsidized by future revenue - is beyond the minds of most thinking individuals.
The City should cut or turn over non-essential services, such as the Museums and the Arts Center, to private groups who can obviously manage them better
Again, we’ve been down this road before. As you said, the Quality of Life tax in 1998 was for the building the Mesa Arts Center. As the chart shows thats on the link you provided, a good portion on this tax DID go to essential services. The voters of Mesa wanted it and passed it. If they didn’t want it, then it would have been defeated, and the Mesa Arts Center would NOT have been built. If the voters wanted this tax for essential services, then it would have been called “City Essential Services” tax and been used for that purpose. The measures to be voted on in May WILL be for those essential services, so if you want them, vote YES.
MR Reed - Amen sir. Mr Brady needs to stop worrying about email & get after the budget. The city seems to be saying the pet projects are more important than the Museums & Libraries or the Police & Fire protection. Now they are looking at building a new court house . Hey I want to add on to my house , how do I get on this gravy train…….
Over the years several mayors and councilmembers have indicated a need for a primary property tax. Those thoughts were reportedly disrupted by the No People.
If you really want to get to the bottom of it — ask the No People why pressure disallowed the change –which would have meant we would not be having this discussion.
The year is 2006 not 1945. There has been a few changes. I suggest we get over it and vote yes for both taxes.
Vote yes on prop 100 to change the city ordinance for building and zoning permits to expedite the process, and prop 101 to put in place a city auditor.