April 22, 2006

MARICOPA - In just one month, Maricopa residents will be asked to determine perhaps the most critical issue the community has faced in its short history - the possibility of implementing a citywide property tax.

For Mayor Kelly Anderson, the choice is easy, and he hopes residents will follow his lead in casting a yes vote for the initiative, labeled Proposition 400.

"For any change to happen, Proposition 400 needs to pass in the May 16 election," Anderson said.

The change Anderson is most concerned about is in the area of public safety - both police and fire protection - for local residents. The intent of Prop. 400 is to create a public safety primary property tax that would be levied by the city. The city would then reassign the current Maricopa Fire District secondary property tax to a primary city property tax to support public safety services.

As a result, the Maricopa Fire District would come under the city's control, effectively becoming the Maricopa Fire Department. Anderson says he's met with the United Firefighters of Maricopa, and that the union is supporting Prop. 400. The mayor believes the change will help the department continue to grow.

"With the passing of Prop. 400, I see a city fire department which will always be on the cutting edge in equipment and technology, and I see a department which will also invest heavily in education, training and other incentives to continue to attract the best to work for the city," Anderson said.

He also noted that with the property tax, the city would be able to continue with development of its own police force. Maricopa already is in the process of creating a department and currently is recruiting for a police chief to lead the process. Without voter approval of Prop. 400, however, the project could come to a standstill.

"Our contract with the Pinal County Sheriff's Office is servicing us well, and the commitment we have from Sheriff (Chris) Vasquez to keep up with the demands of growth will continue to serve us well as we transition to our own police department," Anderson said. "Proposition 400 will allow us to eventually fund the police department through a public safety property tax. The resumes for the police chief position and for the officers are coming in to the city on a daily basis and the qualifications and experience of the applicants are impressive."

Overall, Anderson sees no real drawbacks to Prop. 400, only positives for residents. He also feels the property tax is a necessity for the city to provide an acceptable level of service. Otherwise, Maricopa would be forced to rely on sales tax revenues and one-time impact fees, and could end up in a situation similar to that currently being faced in the city of Mesa. After more than 60 years without a property tax, Mesa is asking voters to reinstitute the levy after facing a budget crisis stemming from a $25 million deficit.

"Again, the benefit to all residents would be lower taxes," Anderson said. "However, as the city grows, having all of our public safety departments under one 'roof' will make them more accountable and responsive to the citizens they serve.

"... I have always said to be a truly sustainable city, we need a property tax. It is an issue that was not supported in the incorporation; however, we are not a city of 4,900 people anymore. I look at cities that rely solely on sales tax and one-time impact fees and the problems they are now facing as they approach build-out. I see them having problems retaining key personnel, having to cut back on parks, recreation and libraries and finding it difficult to build fire and police stations and keeping equipment up to date."

The mayor says two public forums for Prop. 400 are scheduled for May 4 and May 11. Times and locations will be posted in the Maricopa Monitor newspaper and on the city's Web site, www.cityofmaricopa.net.

©Casa Grande Valley Newspapers Inc. 2006