Taxes

Victor Petersen: Gilbert’s budget represents a decrease in government efficiency by spending more tax dollars per citizen … “Where spending leads, taxes must follow”

Anita Christy

On June 3, 2013, the Gilbert Town Council voted 5-2 in favor of a $466 million budget for FY2014.  Council Member Victor Petersen voted "NO," which earned him a "PROPER VOTE" rating from Captain Rick Atridim on Atridim News Journal’s Gilbert Council Scorecard.  

Captain Rick invited Victor to present guest commentary for the ATRIDIM NEWS JOURNAL concerning his vote on this important fiscal event.  Here is a quote from Council Member Victor Petersen.  Please read all of his remarks on Rick’s Guest Commentary:  

 

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Times Are Changing in Gilbert, and Not for the Better

Anita Christy

Gilbert citizen Gary Livacari has been watching the Gilbert Town Council for some time and has written a great article which was recently published in both the Arizona Coalition of Conservative Voters titled Are Times Changing in Gilbert? as well as in AZ Central’s My Turn, titled Gilbert must limit government.   

It seems that, since earning a "Hero of Big Government" ranking from Americans for Prosperity in 2015, Mayor John Lewis and Council Members Eddie Cook, Jenn Daniels, and Jordan Ray continue expanding government.  Follows is a chart which depicts the upward budget climb since 2014.  It has nearly doubled from $447 Million to $850 Million.   

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Here we Go Again! Gilbert Raising Taxes, Expanding Government: June 23 @ 7pm

Anita Christy

A Message from Ms. Christine Accurso

Here we go again!

The Town of Gilbert is getting ready to raise our taxes and expand the size of government at the next council meeting!  Our taxes were already raised considerably by the school districts override and bonds.  We don’t need another tax increase!   

After reading through the 2,983 page agenda packet, I noticed there are 10 agenda items this Thursday, June 23, that are jam packed full of budget increases, expansion of government and a tax rate increase.  What happened to our "conservative" elected officials?  Join me in watching, either in person or live online, who votes for these items.  (Items # 4, 9a, 14, 20, 21, 25, 26, 31, 32 & 33).  Click HERE to watch the meeting live.  

Here are a few items to note:

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Rep. Bob Thorpe’s Letter Regarding Transgender Bathrooms

Anita Christy

Recently, Gilbert Watch published Arizona Joins Texas in Lawsuit to Stop Federal Overreach.  Arizona joined this lawsuit following a letter from Arizona lawmaker Representative Bob Thorpe (R-LD6).  Rep. Thorpe has provided the letter to Gilbert Watch, as well as the data for how the State, Local and Federal education funds break down for 2014-2015.  

Dear Arizona Superintendent of Schools Diane Douglas and Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich:

Legislators have been receiving numerous complaints from constituents who are very concerned with the threatening tone of the May 13, 2016 letter from U.S. Attorney General Lynch and U.S. Department of Education Secretary King.

The letter coerces our nation’s K-12 public schools and colleges to ensure that transgender students must be allowed to use the gender designated restrooms, changing rooms and locker facilities of their choosing, not necessarily that of their biological gender. It has been estimated that approximately 0.3% of U.S. individuals identify themselves as transgender.

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Arizona Joins Texas in Lawsuit to Stop Federal Overreach

Anita Christy

In response to a letter from Arizona lawmaker Representative Bob Thorpe (R-LD6), Arizona Attorney General Mark Brnovich and State Superintendent of Public Instruction Diane Douglas announced that Arizona will Join Texas in a Lawsuit to Stop Federal Overreach.  Co-signers of Rep. Thorpe’s letter included Sen. Sylvia Allen (R-LD6), and Representatives Brenda Barton (R-LD6), Paul Boyer (R-L20), Karen Fann (R-LD1), Mark Finchem (R-LD11), Anthony Kern (R-LD20), and Vince Leach (R-LD11).  (Please express your thanks to Bob Thorpe and the other legislators who signed his letter, as well as Mark Brnovich and Diane Douglas.  See email addresses below.)

The COMPLAINT FOR DECLARATORY AND INJUNCTIVE RELIEF concerns the May 13, 2016 "Joint Guidance" issued by the U.S. Departments of Justice and Education relating to requiring public schools that receive federal funding to allow transgender students to use whatever restroom or locker room they wish, based on how they identify their gender.  

The threat to withdraw federal funding from any school that doesn’t comply is very clear in this sentence: "Under Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, schools receiving federal money may not discriminate based on a student’s sex, including a student’s transgener status."

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U.S. Department of Education’s Major Accomplishment: Staggering Illiteracy

Anita Christy

Zero Hedge recently published an article titled Department of Education – Our Work Here is Done.  A few items from that article include:

The Department of Education was created in 1979 and now has an annual budget of $73 billion, with 5,000 government bureaucrats roaming its hallways.  See U.S. Department of Education Budget Fact Sheet. 

After 37 years and trillions of dollars "invested" in our children, here is a short list of some "achievements":   1) There are six million students in the California school system, and 25% of those students are unable to perform basic reading skills.  2) 50% of adults cannot read a book written at an eighth grade level.  3) 45 million adults are functionally illiterate and read below a 5th grade level.  4) 3 out of 4 people on welfare can’t read.  5) 20% of Americans read below the level needed to earn a living wage.  6) School dropouts cost our nation $240 billion in social service expenditures and lost tax revenues.  7) 3 out of 5 people in American prisons can’t read.  8) Approximately 50% of Americans read so poorly that they are unable to perform simple tasks such as reading prescription drug labels.

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Congressional Hearing on IRS Abuse and EPA Overreach: Mesa, Aug. 22.

Anita Christy

On August 22, from 3:30 – 7:30 pm, please attend a Congressional Hearing on IRS Abuse and EPA Overreach. The hearing will be held at the Mesa Arts Center (Virginia G. Piper Repertory Theater) at 1 East Main Street.  Here is a link to the event flyer.  

The public is encouraged to attend and speak.

Paul Gosar (AZ-04) stated, "It is important, now more than ever, that we hold this intrusive government accountable. Please join us and let us know how you feel about the IRS’s illegal targeting of conservative organizations and the EPA’s unlawful actions."  

Paul Gosar (AZ-04) will be joined by Congressmen Matt Salmon (AZ-05), David Schweikert (AZ-06) and Trent Franks (AZ-08).  The purpose is to take testimony from constituents in regards to problems or concerns they have with the IRS or EPA.  Witnesses will also offer testimony on the impact a closure of the Navajo Generating Station would have on Arizona.  These issues not only impact Arizonans, but also affect Americans across the country.  

Attorney General Tom Horne and State Representative Brenda Barton will offer testimony. Representatives from Tea Party groups, industry associations, and businesses will testify as well.

According to Rep. Paul Gosar (CD4), "Salt River Project, operator of Navajo Generating Station, recently announced it would shut down 33 percent of the plant with an agreement that will likely shut the entire plant by 2044. The dismantling of the electric plant is due to the Obama Environmental Protection Agency’s unnatural fixation with destroying the coal industry. President Barack Obama stated publicly that he will see to it that coal plants are taxed or regulated out of existence. The president is now using the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to attack carbon fuels."

Read more here:  Obama’s EPA to Blame as your Energy Costs Rise. 

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The City of Mesa is Out of Control – Light Rail

Anita Christy

As a taxpaying citizen of Mesa, do you feel in control of how you are governed?  Depending on where you get your news, you might think that Mesa is a wonderful model city.   That might not describe the businesses and citizens, however. 

Unwilling to face the fact that light rail is the worst possible transit option, the Mesa City Council is forging ahead to fleece the taxpayers in order to extend the 1.9 mile Light Rail.  Never mind if existing businesses suffer from 2 years of construction, and the loss of jobs that will go with them.  Never mind that a nice 4-lane thoroughfare will be reduced to 2 lanes plus dangerous light rail trains running down the center.  

Did you know that light rail only serves 0.03% of the transportation needs of Metro Phoenix?  But 1200 million dollars…that’s $1.2 billion…was spent on the first 20 miles.  Those 20 miles have a yearly operating loss of $35 million.

How do such horrible ideas even become reality?  If you want to know how light rail helps with economic development, take a drive from downtown Phoenix to Sycamore Street in Mesa.

Lawsuit Filed Against Mesa

According to Main Street Business Owners Association’s website, a member of the citizen’s group, Main Street Business Owners Association, has filed a lawsuit seeking to stop Mesa’s plan to extend the 1.9 mile Light Rail extension from Mesa Dr. to Gilbert Road before the schedule set by Valley Metro.

Mesa’s financing scheme relies on issuing “notes” which rely on repayment from Federal Transportation Funds for projects which have been canceled or no longer needed.

Mesa plans on issuing “notes’ totaling more than $110 million. Federal funds for 16 road projects have been designated by Mesa to repay the “notes”. The amount expected to be received by Mesa will be insufficient to repay the “notes” and Mesa taxpayers will be obligated to pay any deficiency.

If Mesa taxpayers are ultimately required to make up any deficiency, the city may be responsible for securities fraud. Additionally, the Arizona constitution requires taxpayer obligated bonds to have a public vote and Mesa’s plan could be unconstitutional.

 

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