Are you still overwhelmed with the national election? What about our local election?

During the local election voters were lead to believe that everything was okay in Fountain Hills, that there were enough funds to maintain our community and that more revenues were coming soon from new economic developments.

But that was a few months ago and now, based on a recent work study Council meeting, being “okay” does not include street maintenance. So the dilemma is where will the money come from to maintain our streets and to deal with the looming $8 million shortfall?

A few years ago street maintenance was the Council’s second highest priority item and earlier this year residents who participated in the VisionFH survey said streets were the most important infrastructure component. Looking back, residential streets were once on a seven-year maintenance cycle, but that is not true today, and why is that? Money, or the lack of money, is the answer.

Recent Town operating budgets have forced residential street maintenance to be postponed to the extent that they may now be on a 15- to 20-year cycle.

So, who’s to blame? Undeniably Fountain Hills’ residents have forced the Council to maintain the community on a shoe-string budget for a very, very long time, and the shoe string is simply getting shorter and thinner.

Please don't fret about the national election because it is beyond our control. The starvation budget that our community has lived with for so many years has deprived the town of its ability to invest in its citizens and the town’s future.

Now, let’s focus our attention and energy on the local scene where we can make a difference.