This August, Proposition 464 will be on the ballot. You may have seen the signs urging you to vote yes on Proposition 464 and “Protect Public Safety”, but what does this proposition do, and how does it protect public safety? Currently voters are asked to approve the Queen Creek budget limit (known as Home Rule) every four years. In reality, public safety is not at risk. If we, the voters, approve Proposition 464 future town councils will never have to come to us to approve the budget limits again. I understand that Proposition 464 does not raise taxes and that the council must hold public hearings on the budget. However, in the current political environment, I think it’s a bad idea for voters to give our elected representatives any more control than is absolutely necessary.
My wife and I recently moved here from Fairfax County, Virginia, where I witnessed local government abuse of power. Liberal activists were being rewarded with public money, crime there has increased dramatically, taxpayers' voices are ignored at town halls, and property taxes increased 45% in just 10 years. This drove me and many other residents out of the county. I don't want that to happen here.
Would our current town council abuse such power? I'd like to think they wouldn't. But we don't know who might hold such positions of trust in the future. You can see how upset many people are about the limited transparency regarding the LG Battery plant planning. Many of us felt that our voices were ignored in the approval process.
We citizens must stay engaged and retain whatever legal options we have left so that our voices will be heard.
I plan to vote no on Proposition 464 and I hope you will too.
