Monday, May 4, 2009

Please Stop the Raid, Please Call These Legislators‏

Earlier today, the Arizona State House of Representatives announced that its Appropriations Committee will hear, tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., a bill that should alarm us all. HB 2635 will, among other things, “rebate” (code for “seize”) $210 million from cities and towns across the state and transfer that money to the State’s general fund. That’s how they want to balance their own budget. It is a fundamentally bad idea; it is illegal and unworkable. It would destroy any chance of a speedy economic recovery in our Valley and State.

Due to our good planning and stewardship, cities are able to sustain vital investments in public works that keep people employed in good paying jobs today and deliver infrastructure like parks, libraries, senior centers, police and fire stations that our children and grandchildren will enjoy for many years.

But Section 25 of this bill will seize those impact fees (otherwise known as development fees) that developers pay to cities in order to pay their fair share of needed facilities. If those funds are seized or transferred to the State, the money to build these projects will be gone.

Therefore, if these fees are taken today by the State, when recovery does come to the homebuilding and construction sectors, taxpayers will be stuck with the bill to build these needed projects, rather than making developers pay their fair share.

This raid, if carried out, will have devastating impacts on our community. I respectfully ask you to contact the members of the House Appropriations Committee and ask them not to do this.

Hon. John Kavanagh, Chairman 602-926-5170
Hon. Andy Biggs, Vice-Chairman 602-926-4371
Hon. Olivia Cajero Bedford 602-926-5835
Hon. Cloves Campbell, Jr. 602-926-3042
Hon. Steve Court 602-926-4467
Hon. Rich Crandall 602-926-3020
Hon. Matt Heinz 602-926-3424
Hon. Russell Jones 602-926-3002
Hon. Nancy McLain 602-926-5051
Hon. Rick Murphy 602-926-3255
Hon. David Schapira 602-926-3028
Hon. Kyrsten Sinema 602-926-5058
Hon. Vic Williams 602-926-5839

Source: P.L.A.N.


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