Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutHistorical Records - Incorporation (59) ,, "F(,, ,,,, ,,./ f.' .7 , , . / 7 '''' I A Jl � "syr - ,, /�` ,� ,i Virgil B. Brandon f) / ,, t J .r 9101 N. Overlook r v Drive F Tucson, Arizona 8)70 ,c-- Congressman i�'orris K. Udall Federal Building Tucson, Arizona 85701 Dear Representative Udall, I am a resident of the small community (annroximately 300 households) just north of Tucson which is attempting to incorporate as the separate municipality of Oro Valley. My ori particular bias is that it would be financial folly to incorporate an area with such a small tax ease. i e would not receive even the minimal services tht Fima County now provides without a substantial increase in taxes. The proponents of incorporation have sold the oroFran to many of the residents on the basis that they would receive increased ;police protection, )J 77' • there would be no commercial development in the area (hence no taxes from this source) and no increase;in prgaurly taxes. They propose to obtain 114,1076 sufficient funds through federal revenue sjIaLLIz and a prorortional share of state revenues. My own calculations and those of two other knowledgeable f‘de6 individuals indicate that revenue fro these sources would fall sport of DelakiS expenditure requirements by- many thousands of dollars. This , of course, is what the City of Tucson and Pima County governments have been saying all along. It would seem then that the information being given to the local people does not square with reality. A sampling of opinion in the area indicates that 1/ the people do not 00 want a reduction in public services, 2/ they do not want to pay higher taxes U rAJi edt Rfqand 3/ if either of these circumstancesrevail, the great majority p are against incorporation. In attempting to counter the arguement against incorporation, the proponents frequently efer to the small municipality of Paradise Valley in haricopa County. The claim is that the residents of Paradise Valley have Ptc(kt" better service, that their taxes have not increased and the, have managed to accornr n of is with e.era un•s - ure .uoted is $75.00 per 44r........... . milii..,.MOINS=ragimsmer -c:�;pita. "ince Para ise Valley zs an upper middle class community, - . ,:---- P. ar_ a.mount far in excess of the amount they are eligible for and er the5-1 aleor04,1 distribution formula. The occonents of incorporation contend that either 4.,.1, this is not true or 2/ Paradise Valley is obtaining federal funds illegally. t The people of the Oro Valleyconrnunit of course, want~ know "real" y, to the reaLl truth. In order to determine the truth, I am requesting, your assistance. The Office of Revenue Sharing bulletin of Iviarch, 1973 and consultations with the Department of Public Administration at the University of Arizona indicate that the proper procedure, in matters where misuse of YRS funds is suspected, is to request, through your congressional representative, an investigation by the General Accounting Office. Accordin:ly, in the best interests of good government and on behalf of the residents of the community, I am requesting that you have the GAO investigate the matter and provide us with t information as to the true extent, both total and per capita, of FRS funds that Paradise Valley is entitled to and is, in fact, receiving. I intend to publish this letter and your reply in a fact sheet which will be provided to the residents of this area so that they may better assess the situation. Since time is critical, an expeditious answer would be deeply appreciated. Yours truly, 07 . B. brand on . CC: Pima County 'Board of Supervisors RESIDENTS Oi ORO VALLEY 1. Did you know that revenue distributed from federal and state sources is based on population? Did you know that most of the public services expense (road maintenance, police security, sewer maintenance) of this area is a function of area size rather than population? v eit 2. Did you know that the town of Paradise Valley has about eight times as 10 many people as the community of Oro Valley? The implication of this is t'itilf"4.°°‘ that you are being asked to do what Paradise Valley has done on 1/8 the income. . 4,-le 3. Did you know that the largest portion of t:-Ie income budgeted for the new Ai "town" of Oro Va'ley is expected to be received from federal revenue ptibtO N sharing and that this law expires December31, 1 6 and may not be renewed? a gto a p �7 4. Do you know what your obligations will be if the new "town" cannot pay its bills and the county is forced to appoint a trustee to extricate it from a financial mess? 5. Are you willing to pay substantially higher taxes just to receive the public services you now receive or are you willing to let your sewers overflow, your roads deteriorate and the community go unprotected? 6,„i Did you know that the final incidence of a utilities franchise tax row osed source of falls on the consumer? Do ou WAV° 06(i) (another proposed income) youY ' want higher utility bills? Y('' 7. If you are worried about zoning, did you know th t it may be possible to form a special zoning district (similar to a school district) so that you can control zoning policy in your community? It needs to be investigated before incorporation is adopted as a solution. 8. would you sign a petition for disincorpora.tion if incorporation meant substantially higher taxes or less public service? As it now stands, unless positive action is initiated to stop it, this area will become the Town of Oro Valley because of a four year old petition to incorno ate 04 that many regret signing and most of us have never even seen. A„.. �` rr���r0.rh -_srr 9. Do you wonder why the self appointed Committee for Incorporation will not call a public meeting to discuss these issues? efoLe, 10. If these questions concern you write to the County Board of Supervisors requesting delay of the incorporation until we have all been consulted in a public forum and the questions resolved.