Our home voted no on the proposed property tax. We simply cannot afford a 20 percent increase. We are not rich and don’t have the means to afford the extra burden.

We shop locally and pay the super high sales tax to contribute to the town.

Why can the Town of Fountain Hills not live within its means? Why did we need to pay for a new fire station in cash instead of a bond which, alone, will cause the $7 million shortfall this year? Why do they allow storefronts to remain empty and continue encouraging new commercial development (for new empty storefronts), while allowing the property owners to write off millions from their own taxes? Many local businesses have been run out because they simply cannot afford the extreme increases to their rent and lack of engagement by the town government.

I haven’t seen an honest attempt to encourage new business in this town for the past 20 years, and it’s a bit discouraging to say the least. I do not think we can allow the current town council to continue with business as usual. They need to learn to live within their means before burdening us.