In order to be better informed, I read the proposed general fund budgets for our town, for the next four years, and I do not see the need for anywhere near the proposed $7 million property tax proposal.

According to the proposed general fund budget, in 2017/18, we will break even. 2018/19 annual deficit of $431,574. 2019/20 deficit $946,708. 2020/21 deficit $1,443,792. So, a total deficit over the next three years of $2,822,074, or about $940,000 per year! How does this translate into taxing an additional $21 million? We need better roads? Issue bonds.

We pay Rural Metro $3,500,000 annually, plus a 3 percent built-in increase, and the town owns the fire stations and equipment. Can we not hire our own fire and EMT personnel for a lot less? The median annual salary for a firefighter in Fountain Hills in 2015 was $47,500 per Google. You can hire a lot of firefighters for $3.5 million! Remember, when you hire contractors, you are paying for their entire annual pay and overhead, plus a nice profit for the company. Let’s keep the profit in Fountain Hills and reduce our deficit.

The same for MCSO. But remember that they have a much larger, 10 percent annual cost increase projected. They account for $3.9 million in the general fund this year. If you factor in a 10 percent annual increase this $3.9 million will double to $7.8 million in a little over seven years because of their underfunded pensions. Why is it our responsibility to make up for the poor management of their pension plan? Can we not provide our own public safety personnel and keep our costs reasonable?

Let’s look at this proposed property tax a lot closer and make some changes for the future, as this projected budget is unsustainable. Vote no!