General Fund revenues for Fountain Hills’ fiscal years 2005, 2006, 2007 were, respectively, approximately $15.6 million, $17.2 million and $16.9 million or an average of $16.6 million per year.

General Fund expenditures for those same years were, respectively, approximately $12.7 million, $12.9 million and $14.3 million, or an average of $13.3 million per year. Revenues were higher than expenditures by $3.3 million for each of those years. Meaning that those $3.3 million are discretionary, that those dollars can be and were used elsewhere for things the town needs. All well and good.

Arizona state revenues presently are showing a 10 percent falloff. If Fountain Hills’ future revenues show a similar falloff, then the previously averaged $3.3 million discretionary can also be expected to fall off 10 percent or $330,000.

Remuneration for town manager and town attorney include fringe benefits can be approximated at about $330,000 per year. By eliminating the positions of town manager and town attorney, any anticipated falloff, at the 10 percent level, to the town are made up. This, coupled with additional belt tightening, will supplant the need for any ad valorem tax.

My position is not to be moved by a bunch of chicken littles, used as pawns, and put in place to tout the policy of a town manager who is colored gone.

“By the numbers” shows the way, and also tells how to stay out of future predicaments by curbing spending and borrowing.

Vote no May 20.

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