Now the job gets really tough for Mesa’s new mayor
October 15th, 2008, 12:24 pm · 8 Comments · posted by Le Templar
MESA MAYOR SCOTT SMITH
When Scott Smith took the mayor’s office in July, he had a goodly amount of optimism about what he could accomplish. He had a new council to work with and, despite the city’s fiscal challenges, some real opportunities ranging from the Riverview/Waveyard region to what’s on the horizon for Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport. The new council quickly agreed to a scaled-down version of a bond package and new property tax before city voters on Nov. 4. And he announced several promising changes in the business climate to launch his administration including expansion of Catepiller dealer Southwest Empire and a new Gaylord luxury resort.
What Smith couldn’t count on what the nationwide freeze in the credit markets in mid-September that put an even bigger brake on the national economy. Combined with already struggling Arizona situation, government tax revenues are taking a nose dive at state and local levels.
So Mesa’s on-going budget problems are going to move the forefront again, and likely will shape whatever legacy that Smith will leave the city. Tribune East Valley editor Patti Epler reported today that Police Chief George Gascon and other city department heads are sounding huge red alarms about coming budget cuts, and Smith only stoked the fire with his comments.
“We’re trying to get everybody in the mindset of not only where can we cut, but how do we do business and what services do we provide and where do we go from here,” Smith said. “We may have to make some basic changes in how we approach things. We need to at least start thinking that way. We don’t want to be caught off guard.”
Epler wasn’t able to learn any details about how big the budget cuts might be. But we can get a sense of what’s going on from neighboring Phoenix, where the City Council could be forced to shrink the general operating budget by more than 20 percent — after already making smaller spending reductions earlier this year.
By this time in 2009, Mesa’s city government could look a lot different, and be a lot smaller, than it is now.
October 15th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Find a way to get illegals to pay taxes, that ought to take care of budget woes.
October 15th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
AZHusker- illegals pay just as many taxes as you do in Mesa. We don’t have a property tax and rely on sales taxes.
October 15th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Forget being PC. Drastic times call for drastic measures. If every household in Mesa has to tighten their belts and reduce their spending in order to survive, so too must our city government.
October 16th, 2008 at 5:56 pm
HEY..IS THIS THE NEW MESA MAYOR SCOTT SMITH AND HIS “RUBBER STAMP” CITY COUNCIL WHO JUST LAST WEEK APPROVED A $7MILLION DOLLAR, YES…..THAT’S RIGHT FOLKS $7 MILLION DOLLAR “UPGRADE” FOR THE RHODES JR. HIGH SCHOOL POOL. …..$7 MILLION DOLLARS FOR A “WAVE MAKER” SO THAT ONE YES 1 KID CAN “PRETEND” TO SURF FOR :30 MINUTES. MAYOR SCOTT’S CITY COUNCIL WASN’T TOO “CONCERNED” ABOUT THE BUDGET JUST A WEEK AGO WHEN HE “APPROVED” THIS $7MILLION DOLLAR “EAR MARK” FOR “PRO SANCTUARY” CITY COUNCILMAN KAVANAUGH’S DISTRICT. NOW, MAYOR SCOTT AND HIS “RUBBER STAMP” CITY COUNCIL ARE CRYING “WOLF…WOLF” ABOUT THE BUDGET AND IT’S $100-$200 MILLION DOLLAR SHORTFALL FOR 2009. DO NOT GIVE THE “EARMARK CRAZY” MESA MAYOR SCOTT SMITH AND THE CITY COUNCIL’S “NODDING HEADS” ANOTHER $200 MILLION DOLLARS IN “QUESTIONS 1 & 2) TO SQUANDER ON MORE “EARMARKS”…..VOTE NO, NO, NO ON “QUESTIONS 1 & 2″ ON THE NEXT MONTHS BALLOT
October 17th, 2008 at 8:44 am
Ryan, illegals do NOT pay the same amount of taxes as legal citizens do because they don’t pay an income tax. Please educate yourself before you post.
October 17th, 2008 at 8:49 am
Also Ryan I don’t know what city you live in but saying we don’t have a property tax tells me you don’t own a home because Mesa has always had a property tax. Once again you need to go educate yourself before you post and quit trying to be an advocate for the illegals.
October 17th, 2008 at 10:04 am
Actually, Troy, you happen to be a confused Mesa resident. You pay property taxes to a variety of local governments including Maricopa County, the Mesa Unified School District, and the Maricopa County Community College District. But you do NOT pay a property tax to the city of Mesa. The city hasn’t collected property taxes in 50 years, although voters will decide Nov. 4 whether to impose a secondary property tax to fund $168 million in debt bonds to fund new police equipment, fire stations and street improvements.
October 17th, 2008 at 2:16 pm
Also, income taxes have nothing to do with Mesa’s budget woes so again you strike out. Keep on working on those arguments Troy- eventually you might come close.