Dear Ms. Arredondo-Savage and Ms. Ellis -
I attended Monday's Tempe City Council Candidate Forum sponsored by the Arizona Republic and the Tempe Chamber of Commerce.
I also watched it again online at Tempe 11. It's amazing how out of touch both of you really are. Most of your answers to the questions
were falsehoods at the most or flat out lies at the least.
According to the Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA), Tempe has one of the highest property taxes in all of Maricopa County and
possibly Arizona.
|
|
2004-05 |
2005-06 |
2006-07 |
2007-08 |
2008-09 |
2009-10 |
2010-11 |
2011-12 |
2012-13 |
2013-14 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Secondary property taxes |
$23,309,868 |
$26,121,456 |
$27,515,948 |
$31,736,108 |
$34,702,647 |
$36,858,341 |
$34,413,644 |
$34,851,226 |
$36,272,128 |
$37,545,043 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Primary rate/$100 |
$0.5293 |
$0.5183 |
$0.5105 |
$0.5105 |
$0.5070 |
$0.4897 |
$0.5176 |
$0.6572 |
$0.7862 |
$0.9177 |
| Secondary rate/$100 |
$0.8207 |
$0.8817 |
$0.8895 |
$0.8895 |
$0.8930 |
$0.9103 |
$0.8824 |
$1.1291 |
$1.3552 |
$1.5705 |
| Total rate/$100 |
$1.3500 |
$1.4000 |
$1.4000 |
$1.4000 |
$1.4000 |
$1.4000 |
$1.4000 |
$1.7863 |
$2.1414 |
$2.4882 |
| Percent increase |
|
3.704% |
0.000% |
0.000% |
0.000% |
0.000% |
0.000% |
27.592% |
19.879% |
16.195% |
In FY 2010-11, both of you and Hugh Hallman pushed for a new variable property tax rate system. You told the citizens of Tempe it would be a "fair tax" and not to worry because Tempe only needed a fixed and level amount of property taxes every year so the property tax rate would be adjusted up or down. The total property tax rate in FY 2010-11 was $1.40 and has increased every year. The total property tax rate in FY 2013-14 is $2.4882 - a 77.73% increase over FY 2010-11 and third highest in the Valley according to ATRA. My city property taxes have increased every year. It's also been reported that Tempe's cost of living is extremely higher because of the high sales taxes, property taxes, utility rates and fees.
Another example is both of you told the audience and the viewers at home that Tempe doesn't have a crime problem. Guess what - Tempe was just ranked one of the most dangerous suburbs in America. This outrageous and sad distinction is totally unacceptable and is the result in-part of the progressive socialist policies of both of you, the Mayor, City Council and City Staff.
http://realestate.msn.com/americas-10-most-dangerous-suburbs#4
Neither of you deserve to be re-elected.
A. J. LaFaro
Village of South Tempe
