Mesa’s property tax initiative fails
May 19th, 2006 by Wulf
As much as I am mostly a libertarian, and believe in as few taxes as possible, I really think they should have passed that one, at least on a provisional basis. Granted, Mesa has property tax revenue sharing from the state, but we need more money, and it’s the voters own fault that we need it. A few years ago, There were six bond propositions on the Mesa ballot. I voted against all but one (one for public transportation, which is a joke in this town) because I don’t believe in a government’s buying on credit, especially when there is no indication of an economic upturn. But they all passed by nearly a 2-1 margin.
Now when faced with paying back the debts they have racked up in a similar fashion over the last 20 years, they balk. Stupid fecking dolts. They’ll learn when the library closes on most days, both of our museums go down in flames, and all arts die. Who will buy a home in a city with no culture? I wouldn’t be surprised if property values fall just like my brother is predicting. We should have at least passed a provisional property tax until the city’s debts are repaid (as well as put a moratorium on bonds until the same).
At the same time the city DOES mismanage it’s funds even without the voters, and is equally to blame for the death of Mesa’s culture. Why, exactly, are we paying to build a Bass Fishing Superstore at the junction of 101 and 102? Hmmm.
God knows we won’t lose Bass World. And of course we won’t lose police and fire. But when we DO lose the little extras (museums, libraries, a city symphony, etc.) that make life in Mesa unique, I hope all you who voted against a property tax remember this moment.
Spence
“Works of art, in my opinion, are the only objects in the material universe to possess internal order, and that is why, though I don’t believe that only art matters, I do believe in Art for Art’s sake.”
E. M. Forster (1879 - 1970)
PS–those of you who would like to blame the $100M Mesa Arts Center, the MAC was built virtually entirely with private donations (I know many of the fundraisers).