NO on Prop 454, an Interview with Jim Horn
Hello there again readers and welcome back to Coffee Break Liberty, a blog where we tackle books, news and many other things under the sun where liberty is a guiding principle. If this is your first time here we would like to extend a special warm welcome to you and hope you enjoy yourself while you’re here.
This week we have a very special treat for you readers this week! We have another interview! This week we are chatting with Jim Horn, the chairman of the “No on Prop 454” initiative here in Oro Valley AZ. For those that don’t know Coffee Break Liberty is headquartered in Oro Valley AZ, so this is a very localized issue. Prop 454 will be part of a special bond election which will cost the Oro Valley tax payer $145,000 to place on the ballet, the only item on the ballot, on November 7th. This bond measure is for the Naranja Park in the town of Oro Valley. Let’s let Mr. Horn explain from here.
Leo Sowers: Hello Jim, thank you for agreeing to partake in this interview with us here at Coffee Break Liberty. Starting off with the questions here, what is prop 454 and why do you feel the people of Oro Valley should vote ‘no’?
Jim Horn: Proposition 454 is an additional property tax. This would be in addition to the property tax bill you now receive from Pima County annually. The voters of Oro Valley should vote no on this proposition for the following reasons based upon the fiscal irresponsibility of the town council over the past eight years. For example, the Steam Pump Ranch on Oracle Road was purchased by the voters of Pima County in 2008 for $5 million ($9 million with bond interest) To date very few dollars have been spent on renovating this historical piece of property. The town of Oracle has the custodial representation for this property. We spend $9 million to acquire the property and turn it into slum conditions.
Additionally, the town counsel unwisely voted to buy the golf courses from El Conquistador in order to obtain a community center. Currently the golf course has lost $5.7 million. In addition, the golf course needs future ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) compliance work. That is expected to be approximately $400,000. Total renovation of the property will require another $6 million. Golf courses are a losing business. The City of Tucson (Oro Valley is a suburb of Tucson) is currently trying to determine if they should sell their four golf courses.
Finally, the town of Oro Valley has said the Naranja bond is $17.3 million when it if in the fact is almost $28 million with bond interest. In the general plan, that the voters approved, it was understood that the ballfields would be installed pay-as-you-go. However, for some reason the town has accepted the premise that this needs to be accelerated rapidly. Maybe the town needs more money to support the golf club?
LS: Assuming prop 454 goes down, what future do you see for Naranja Park? Could private donations and funding be the correct approach?
JH: If the bond issue fails, ballfields will still be installed. However, it would be on a pay-as-you-go basis. And obviously future donations from either private individuals or companies would accelerate this program. As I write this, multi purpose fields are being installed at Naranja Park.
LS: What inspired you to get involved in this initiative and politics in general?
JH: I was inspired to get into this initiative because of the fiscal malfeasance that the town council of Oro Valley continues to demonstrate their inability on how to spend taxpayer monies responsibly.
LS: If people want to get involved how should they go about that?
JH: People can go check us out on Facebook at, “Axe The Tax OV” another place to find us is online at LOVE: http://letorovalleyexcel or we can be reached at, AxetheTaxOV@gmail.com or our website at, axethetaxov.com
LS: Well thank you Jim for your time, before I let you go I wanted to ask another question or two. What is next for you after this initiative? With growing support for initiatives like this one what future do you see in Oro Valley politics in general?
JH: No aspirations, but I will watch the town finances much closer.
In the concluding thoughts of this interview we feel a point or two should be driven home. Prop 454 is bad for Oro Valley and another attack on our liberties. We have seen for years now spending that just doesn’t make sense and a city government that treats us, the tax payer, as an ATM. This needs to stop. One would think that those in city government would have gotten the message after needing to go through a recall election a couple years back, nope. One might also think that the city government would get the message when the voters told them last year that this project would be funded by a pay as you go type of payment, again the city government didn’t listen. When Prop 454 goes down will they listen this time? Doubtful. What is needed is a change in the city government of Oro Valley. We have been ignored for far too long. We must, again, tell the city that we will be heard. When we tell others about liberty we want to make clear what we believe. A core belief is that we don’t want to harm others or take other people’s stuff. Prop 454 harms other people through taxation and then takes their stuff, money. The liberty movement in Oro Valley is growing and it’s here to stay.
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Keep that coffee warm for us.
LWS
