5/17/2012 1:36:00 PM
Camp Verde Sales tax raised to 3%
Council opts to 'move forward'
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| Mayor Bob Burnside: "My vote is no. All you have known that. The public in my opinion has to pay this bill. I could stand here for hours but no one is going to listen to me." |
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| Carol German: "I have agonized over this issue. I wish we had done this a year and half ago, but we didn't and since then nothing has happened. The bottom line is we can't do anything and we need to be moving forward." |
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CAMP VERDE - By a vote of 6 to 1, the Camp Verde council voted Wednesday evening to raise the town sales tax from 2 percent to 3 percent.
The vote as much a vote of confidence in Town Manger Russ Martin's plans to "move the town forward" as it was a realization that without additional income Camp Verde is on the brink.
Camp Verde will now join Cottonwood, Clarkdale, Jerome and Sedona in having a 3-percent municipal sales tax.
"It is not and end-all solution to our difficulties, it only a step in the right direction. I am confident this will have a positive effect on what we do as a town and for our citizens," said town Manager Russ martin
Mayor Bob Burnside cast the lone opposition vote.
"My vote is no. All you have known that. The public in my opinion has to pay this bill. I could stand here for hours but no one is going to listen to me," said Burnside in casting his vote.
But Burnside's opinion was outweighed by a council that seemed frustrated with trying to do something with noting for too long.
"Like Councilman Kovacovich I have agonized over this issue," said councilwoman Carol German, "I wish we had done this a year and half ago, but we didn't and since then nothing has happened. The bottom line is we can't do anything and we need to be moving forward."
The additional tax will go into the Town's general fund where it will be used to close the existing deficit, replace some vacant staffing position, specifically in the Camp Verde Marshal's Office and to fund several projects that have been approved but deferred pending adequate funding.
The specific expenditures that the additional tax revenue fund will ultimately be up to the Town Council to determine.
"The public will have an opportunity as we move along to provide input on the usage of the money," Martin told the council.
Martin had advised the council over the last few weeks that without additional revenue the Town's reserves would be used up within the next one to three fiscal years, depending on what capital projects were put off.
In making his case Martin pointed out that all capital expenditures, with the exception of state gas tax money for roads, ultimately comes from the same general fund revenue stream.
"We have put $280,000 into the Finnie Flat project. We will be putting $80,000 in to the Verde Lakes Drive project. We have plans for the park property and other facilities.
"They are capital projects but they deplete money that would otherwise go towards the general fund and the operations of the Town. All the project we are currently doing are using money from our reserves," said Martin.
The tax applies to most transactions including Restaurants, bars, retail sales, telecommunications and utility services.
It will not apply to groceries, residential rental property or new construction.
The tax, which goes into effect July 1, 2012, is expected to raise $750,000 over the next year.
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Posted: Thursday, May 31, 2012
Article comment by:
Sorry Will
Sorry Will.
But Mr. Moot is correct.
There won't be.
Don't believe us fine, check with town hall.
It is what it is
Posted: Thursday, May 31, 2012
Article comment by:
Thank Goodness
Dear don
Thank goodness the Founders knew a democracy was a disaster waiting to happen and held such in disdain.
Thank goodness they created a Republic instead.
lol
Posted: Wednesday, May 30, 2012
Article comment by:
will straus
In reply to moot point: Call it what you will.when enough signatures are collected, the citizens of camp verde will decide whether they want more taxes on everything that is purchased in town,except groceries.
Posted: Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Article comment by:
Moot Point
It does not matter how many signatures Mr.Young gets.
This is not a 'referable' issue.
There will be no referendum.
Posted: Sunday, May 27, 2012
Article comment by:
don mcdonald
I applaud mr.young for stepping foward and trying to get 200 signatures to force the town to leave the tax increase in the hands of camp verde citizens. Isn't that the democratic way. If you don't want the citizens to vote on any tax increase then move to a country who tells you what is best for you,whether you like it or not.
Posted: Sunday, May 27, 2012
Article comment by:
A Resident
Travis,
Where is my comment to overturn the city council? Never did I say that or even mention that in my comments. We have all those except the employee pool, services in place already so I am not sure where your comments are directed. And I am foolish because I ask where my tax money is going? It is foolish of me and others to demand accountablity of our elected officials? I am not living in the past because if that was the truth, I wouldn't question where how the money was used nor would I care. Ignoring the sins of our elected officials is the past and the major cause of misappropriated funds to unnecessary projects or ones which should be low on priority.
So Travis, I am not living in the past, nor am I foolish. And I will restate my position on the sales tax increase: " If the town wants it's citizens to back them, they need to lead and I am just not seeing this from them. You need to communicate to your citizens what you are focusing on and #1 should be businesses.. business that bring jobs and revenue to the community! Again I ask: for what will the increase sales tax be used for???????
Posted: Saturday, May 26, 2012
Article comment by:
Travis McGee
To A Resident.
You ask what services a business needs to come to Camp Verde? Roads, Police, Library, Parks, Employee Pool, Town Services and above all else a customer base they can count on.
None of which, except for a lot of unemployed people, can the Council offer them. Why not?
Because of years of foolish people like you and those pushing a referendum to overturn the decision of the Council. Years of foolish people electing virulent anti-business Councils and putting their own petty little interests ahead of the community. Years of NIMBYS who do not care about the future of their neighbors or their own children and grand-children.
This Town is dying and all you can do is live in the past. The Council stepped up to the plate by 6 to 1 to do what has to be done. You think that was easy? The numbers of the vote tells you nothing? The anguish they went through to make this tough call tells you nothing?
Wake up, look at the facts. There is no other choice if you want your children to have ANYYHING.
Have a great Memorial Day
Posted: Friday, May 25, 2012
Article comment by:
This is getting old
My brother in law use to work at the Marshals Office. He has since retired but he is still close to many there. Yes there is only 10 officers and many of them are not happy I hear. I dont know details but it has to do with management changes.
They need cops and support. I for one would not want to be dealing with things they deal with by myself with no back up. I support the tax if it used wisely. Will that happen, I doubt it, they will paying for more studies on this or that and the employees will continue to suffer.
Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Article comment by:
Juan Rico
Dear what a joke.
Well your screen name is certainly apropos.
The difference between you and I is that I do not just think I know what I am talking about, I actually do know what I am talking about.
The Marshal's office does employ Dispatchers, Evidence Room Technicians, Animal Control Officers, and clerical and administrative support staff.
If you expect any of those to show up at your house at 2:00 a.m. in the morning when you are whining for help you are dreaming.
They have exactly 10 patrol officers. To cover 45 square miles 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Invest in a calculator and do the math.
Often there is only one on duty at a time. That is very dangerous for both them and you.
The people do get to vote, once every two years for people to make decisions that are neccessary and often diffiuclt to make. If you are so convinced that you and you alone know what is best why don't you run for Council and set everything right? Or is that a rhetorical question?
The pure selfishness of some people purely boggles my mind. The comment by Mr. McGee was I am sorry to say correct. Some things you just cannot fix.
Have a great Memorial Weekend and say a prayer for our boys and girls in uniform who paid and are paying the price for you to enjoy it.
If appreciation is possible for some of the bloggers here.
Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Article comment by:
WHAT A JOKE
JUAN RICO-
If you think that there are only 10 employees in the Marshal's office you have bigger problems then not being able to spell. My point was and still is that to increase the number of officers,employees or whatever you choose to call them in the Marshal's office using my tax money is uncalled for. Once again if the council really thinks that the town wanted this tax increase why didn't they let the town vote? Even you should know the answer!
Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Article comment by:
jeb stone
Trouble is...camp verde is just a retirement haven. Quit trying to make it a destination for tourists. You can't compete with sedona or jerome. Just enjoy the rural western living camp verde touts on its homepage. Cater to retired low income families. Take a good look around. It is what it is.
Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Article comment by:
A Resident
To Edna: I am not a whiner or selfish. I am a taxpayer that demands to know where my tax dollars go. I shop at many places in Cottonwood, Sedona, but seldom in Camp Verde because they don't offer what I want to buy at the quality and price I want to pay! I don't always shop at Walmart but sometimes I do and if you haven't notice Edna!!! the employees are not Chinese!! They are from the Verde Valley and are most are thankful they have that job because there is not a hell of lot of choices in this area if you haven't noticed. So let's talk about the businesses gained in Camp Verde.. let's see a resale shop, a restaurant. What else? No where did I ask for a Walmart or other big box store to come to CV. I asked for our town management to bring businesses that bring long term opportunities to the community. What services are you speaking needed for businesses to commit that are required to be paid by the taxpayers? I beg to differ that towns need to provide taxpayer services to entice businesses. I can see the town giving them tax breaks or reduced business fees but not providing them services paid for taxpayers. You are right in one fact, I do not attend the town meetings as my schedule does not allow me that, but that doesn't mean I am just whining, or selfish, or even have no civic pride. This forum is for opinions, that's why it's so named that! With discussion comes ideas, even if the words are sometimes angry or seems unreasonable to you. Maybe someone reading these comments gets an idea, improves on it, and takes it to the next public meeting. That in turn leads to real advancement in our town. Edna, how is your comments different from others in this forum? From your comments it's obivous you do not agree with what others are saying and you lashed out by calling others names without offering any concrete solutions either. In your public meetings that you go to, do you bring constructive ideas based on fact how to improve the situation without burdening your neighbors. Not everyone can afford more taxes (see Yavapai College now wants an increase) as our taxation is county wide and not just by the town of Camp Verde. If you do, please share some with us instead of whining yourself about us whiners and selfish people.
Posted: Wednesday, May 23, 2012
Article comment by:
Buy Local
As I read these comments, it is clear that many of you do not shop local. I know that prices may be higher at the "mom & pop" stores but they are part of our community and I want to support my community. I am not into wasting my fuel to drive to Cottonwood to pay the same sales tax rate. Everything I need, I can find right here in Camp Verde.
Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Article comment by:
Thank You Edna
You spoke very eloquently for a majority of us that support the hard decision
Posted: Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Article comment by:
Edna Raynard
What a bunch of whiners and selfish people these letter writers are. They will shop in other towns, spending gas and paying into the coffers of other towns? All the while complaining about a tax in Camp Verde? Recalling elected officials over this is pure BS. How about shopping only in Camp Verde instead of Walmart where all the profits go to China? You say 25 officers are too many? You would rather depend on the county where you might see a sheriff a day or two after the issue? Fine, sell your property and move instead of having civic pride. You complain four businesses have folded? Care to check, that happened everywhere. We do have some new businesses here thank you very much.Without services provided via taxes, no company would want to base a business here unless we have the things that employers would need. OK, you want a big box store which sells cheap crap from China and pay their employees unlivable wages, go ahead and dream. Those stores are just what put small businesses out of business for 200 miles around. The city council did what was needed. Threaten all the recalls you want, but how many of your whiners actually showed up for public comments at the meeting? I did not see you there! The poll in this newspaper showed the majority were in favor of the tax. This shows me that you are just seeking revenge rather than working to make it better. I am proud of the six members who voted in the public interest instead of the one who only worried about his chances of reelection over this matter.
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