All three MOU’s were passed by the Council. Rating a #10 on the Gilbert Watch “Incredulity Meter,” Council Member Abbott stated that she “respects the Constitution and the First Amendment and the right for people to assemble and belong to organizations, and so I support the right of our employees to belong to organizations in which they want to be affiliated.”
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Goldwater Institute Enters Free Speech Fracas
In response to members of the public requesting assistance from the Goldwater Institute to intervene in the Gilbert Town Council’s decision to deny citizens the opportunity to discuss a proposed tax hike at council meetings, the Institute issued the following email to the Gilbert Town Council on February 18, 2010:
Read moreIndependence Day Disappointment
Why celebrate “Independence Day” when so many American people have no idea what it means? Christmas is the Winter Holiday. Easter is the Spring Holiday. So, should we rename Independence Day? How about Fireworks Extravaganza Day?
Read moreGilbert Bans Bible Studies in Homes!
The Town of Gilbert has the resources to send warning letters to private citizens forbidding Bible studies in homes, but no money for police and fire?
Read moreBible Study Ban Followup
The Gilbert Town Council held a Special Meeting Monday night (3/22/2010) to discuss the now infamous Land Development Code (LDC) and the need to revise a couple of land use provisions. This meeting took place because of a series of events that led to a major media dust-up that put Gilbert in a most troubling national spotlight. Gilbert, the “forward looking, family oriented community with a small town atmosphere,” had become “the City that forbids bible studies in homes.” This is not the reputation that Mayor John Lewis and the Council Members had in mind for the Town.
Read morePlease Reelect Jared Taylor for Gilbert Town Council
(Gilbert Watch welcomes this guest letter by Jared Taylor, who is currently serving as the Vice Mayor in Gilbert. He has lived in Gilbert since 1996 with his wife and three daughters.)
Over the last few years, Gilbert has been showered in recognitions. I’m running for re-election to build on our strengths, address our challenges, and keep Gilbert the best place to grow a family and build a business.
Here are a few of the recognitions our wonderful residents and Town have earned: 22nd Best Place to Live (Money Magazine, 2014); 2nd Safest City in the US (Law Street Media, 2016); Best City for Raising a Family (Move.org, 2016); 7th Happiest City in America (Zippia, 2016), and Top 5 Safest Cities to Build Your Startup (Tech.Co, 2016).
We couldn’t live in a better place at a better time. Who would have thought that Gilbert would have grown from “The Hay Capitol of the World” to one of the most successful cities or towns in the US?
My appreciation goes to the many wonderful residents and Town leaders who have made Gilbert so great.
While we have had tremendous success, we continue to need strong leadership to address the challenges we face.
Over the last few decades, a large part of Gilbert’s budget has come from construction sales taxes.
Read moreGilbert Watch Primary Voting Recommendations: August 30, 2016
As you complete your Primary ballot, please consider the following candidates for offices all the way from United States Senate to Town Council. Time hasn’t allowed for the vetting of every office throughout the state. The suggestions you see here are based on voting patterns, leadership, and commitment to constitutional, conservative ideals.
Read moreJenn Daniels Raises Gilbert Taxes in Second Meeting as Mayor
On August 9, 2016, the Gilbert Town Council voted to increase taxes this year by $1.5 million dollars. It seems that, since former Mayor John Lewis and Council Members Eddie Cook, Jenn Daniels, and Jordan Ray earned a "Hero of Big Government" ranking from Americans for Prosperity in 2015, the trend continues. Council members are spinning and denying it’s a tax increase!
According to Mayor Jenn Daniels: "In light of the incredible misinformation that is being disseminated on Facebook and other forums, I would like to set the record straight: YOUR TAXES DID NOT GO UP by our vote last night or any other vote by our current Town Council."
The Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA) called it a tax increase, as did the Town of Gilbert website!
ATRA stated:
"In a split vote, the Town of Gilbert elected to raise its secondary property tax for FY17 from a rate of $1.0567 to $1.0609. This results in a tax levy increase of approximately $1.5 million. Surprisingly, some council members attempted to argue the tax rate and levy increase wasn’t a tax increase at all. For town leaders to suggest this is not a tax increase is simple obfuscation.
"In actuality, the rate should have decreased substantially this year if they accounted for what property taxpayers have already paid. For cities and towns, the secondary property tax is used exclusively for the repayment of voter-approved bonds. The estimated debt service schedule in this year is $22.7 million. The town has previously over-collected nearly $15 million for this purpose. This money is not a rainy day fund and cannot be used for any other purpose. The town voted to use just 12% of this overpayment account ($1.7 million) to pay for debt service in FY17. It is regrettable the town elected to increase taxes while it earns interest on past over-collections which sit in the bank. Taxpayers must pay the debt-service on bonds, but they first ought to be credited for what they have already paid. At a minimum, Gilbert owes a specific plan to its taxpayers to credit them back for what they have previously overpaid. There is no financial justification to stockpile a massive sum as taxpayers are constitutionally obliged to repay the debt service on voter-approved debt each year via the property tax, making it an incredibly reliable and secure debt-instrument."
Town of Gilbert website: "Proposed New and Increased Taxes or Fees"
The tax hike passed 4-2. Here is the vote:
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Voting – Heads or Tails?
If you haven’t been introduced to GilbertPolitics.com, I urge you to get acquainted. This blog is published and thoughtfully written by concerned citizen and constitutional conservative Travis Dutson. He unapologetically states, "Yes, I’m opinionated." Please take advantage of his carefully studied, respectful opinions. In his most recent post titled Voting – Heads or Tails, Mr. Dutson provides insight into why he has chosen to support certain candidates, including those running for U.S. Senate, Congressional CD5, LD12 Arizona Senate and House, and Gilbert Town Council.
We enjoy our liberties because of people like Travis Dutson who fights to protect them! As you read his article, be sure to click on the link and read the Comments, which are equally enlightening. Enjoy!
Read moreMeet The Candidates! Andy Biggs, Warren Petersen, Eddie Farnsworth, Travis Grantham, Jake Hoffman
Please attend a Meet the Candidates event on Wednesday, July 27, 2016, 6:30 – 8:30 pm. Hosted by Rick & Jacque Gurney and Frank & Tricia Groe. To request the address, please RSVP tlgroe@me.com.
Senator Andy Biggs is running for Congressional District 5 U.S. House of Representatives.
Rep. Warren Petersen is running for the Arizona Senate in Legislative District 12.
Rep. Eddie Farnsworth is running for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative 12.
Travis Grantham is running for the Arizona House of Representatives in Legislative District 12.
Jake Hoffman is running for Queen Creek Town Council
See below for a few articles and endorsements relating to these great conservative candidates.
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