Adams and Jefferson on Ballot Propsositions

While I am still doing research on some of the ballot props, its always helpful to see what other people are thinking. In this case, fellow Mesa Blogger Adams and Jefferson has taken the time to go through the ballot initiatives and offfer some thoughts. Not only did he cover the statewide propositions, he covered the local ones as well. Here is what he said about Mesa:


Mesa Special Elections

400 series propositions are referred to the people by their City Council and are used to make changes in the City Charter. Questions are almost always to approve bonds.


Proposition 400 – Residential Inspections
Proposition 400 would allow city inspectors/code compliance officers to inspect the interior of slum properties with the consent of the owner/occupier. Right now they can only inspect the exterior of these properties.

Advantage:
Will give the city another tool to combat urban blight by inspecting the interiors of slum properties.

Disadvantage:
Do we really need more inspections?

Adams and Jefferson doesn't feel strongly either way about this proposition but will probably vote NO

Question 1 – Public Safety Bonds, Question 2 – Street Bonds
Question 1 will authorize the City of Mesa to issue $58,300,000 in general obligation municipal bonds to pay for improvements to the city fire and police department in infrastructure, personnel and equipment. Question 2 will allow the City of Mesa to issue $110,900,000 in general obligation municipal bonds to pay for improvements to the city’s streets, highways, and traffic control systems. Both bonds are to be paid for over 25 years and are secured by a secondary property tax on all taxable properties in the city.

Advantages:
Improved public safety
Improved roads

Disadvantages:
More borrowing for the city
Secondary property tax will be triggered by these bonds.


We have a new mayor and city council that have worked hard to trim the fat in our budget. These bonds are actually half of what the city departments originally proposed to the city council. I hate to borrow more, especially when it will trigger the property tax, but we get the city we pay for. I would like a better city than the one we live in now.

Adams and Jefferson says: VOTE YES on QUESTIONS 1 and 2

Again, you check out all of Adams and Jefferson's recommendations here.