Prop 490 & 491
In Scottsdale's upcoming November 2024 election, Propositions 490 and 491 will be key decisions for the city's residents.
Would you like to invest in the key elements that make Scottsdale a vibrant community while also lowering our sales tax?
By voting YES-YES on November 5th for the To Protect and To Preserve Scottsdale initiative and the Permanent Base Adjustment, you can do just that.
These measures, supported by a strong majority of Scottsdale City Council members, would replace and reduce an expiring 0.2% sales tax to 0.15% for 30 years. The resulting tax revenue will fund:
1. Reinvestment in Indian Bend Wash parks first, followed by improvements to other parks citywide as they age. All enhancements must go through the City Master Planning Process, which includes public input and approval by the Planning Commission and City Council.
2. Increased maintenance across all city parks.
3. Expanded Fire Department resources to reduce fire hazards and enhance public safety across the city.
4. Infrastructure improvements for WestWorld, including flood control, shade structures, and traffic flow enhancements.
5. Ongoing maintenance of the Preserve, ensuring the protection of wildlife habitats and cultural resources.
Proposition 490, known as "To Protect and To Preserve Scottsdale" initiative, seeks to continue funding crucial city assets like the McDowell Sonoran Preserve, the Scottsdale Indian Bend Wash Greenbelt, and other parks.
The ballot language specifies that the tax must be exclusively used for these projects. An accompanying ordinance outlines the percentage of tax revenue allocated to each initiative. If a future council seeks to adjust these allocations, a supermajority vote of 5-2 would be required. Citizen oversight will be ensured by assigning this responsibility to the Parks and Preserve Commissions.
Proposition 491 addresses the city's expenditure limit, proposing a permanent $22 million adjustment to allow Scottsdale to maintain current services and programs without cutting back. Unlike Prop 490, this proposal doesn't involve a tax increase but ensures the city's budget can meet its growing needs.
I feel confident in supporting these Scottsdale initiatives in part, because Moody’s recently upgraded Scottsdale’s Excise Tax Revenue Bonds rating to Aaa - the highest possible rating. General Obligation Bonds for the City of Scottsdale were already rated Aaa by Moody’s.
Both propositions are designed to preserve Scottsdale's status as a vibrant, world-class city while protecting important natural and recreational resources. Without this dedicated funding, all of these projects will have to compete annually with other city general fund priorities, and many may go unfunded! We must protect the jewels of Scottsdale, our city parks and our McDowell Sonoran Preserve into the future to maintain the health of our community, so please join me in voting YES-YES for Propositions 490 and 491!
Coalition of Greater Scottsdale
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