With a 7-0 unanimous vote on Tuesday, Oct. 10, the Town Council directed Town Manager Grady Miller to take the necessary steps to have a proposal for a primary property tax put on the ballot for the consideration of Fountain Hills voters.

The council will holding a special meeting discuss options for closing projected revenue shortfalls over the next 10 years.

Deciding to ask for the vote easy part of the discussion, but it took three motions to decide the property tax should raise $7 million per year. Vice Mayor Alan Magazine moved for an $8 million total, and received no second, while Councilman Art Tolis suggested $4 million with no support.

In making the decision to ask voters for the tax a consensus of the council committed to the elimination of the environmental fee (if the property tax passes).

Mayor Linda Kavanagh and Councilman Cecil Yates also wanted to show commitment to the voters’ wishes by formally taking the proposed Crystal Lagoon off the table for any future discussion. Interim Town Attorney Fredda Bisman advised that item was not on the agenda and the council should not take formal action.

Staff will formalize the tax question for council consideration by the end of the year. The question is likely to be on the ballot for the May 2018 election.