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Council Yvonne Knaack The Arizona Republic – West Valley |
Proposition 457 will change Glendale, approved or not.
City leaders have switched gears and now fully embrace the crisis-management mode Glendale is in to fix the city’s severe fiscal woes. And have no doubt: This is a crisis that requires a combination of spending cuts and increased revenue to survive.
One of the solutions to this financial mess was the temporary 0.7 percent sales-tax increase, which was enacted in August. We recommend Glendale voters reject Proposition 457 to preserve that temporary tax.
Proposition 457 reverses the tax and amends the Glendale city charter to require voter approval for certain future privilege taxes. Whether the initiative will in fact reverse that sales-tax increase is a question City Attorney Craig Tindall and council members have debated.
Nonetheless, opponents of the increase, such as Save Glendale Now, argue the initiative is needed to force the city to live within its means. People had to tighten their belts during the economic downturn, and Prop. 457 supporters believe the city should do the same.
But taking nearly $25 million out of the annual budget isn’t living within means; it begins a decline in city services and the quality of life Glendale residents enjoy — a life with fully staffed Police and Fire departments and with libraries and recreation centers whose doors are open, not closed.
The pulse of the city already is different. That citizens rose up to challenge the City Council’s policy decisions speaks loudly to concerns and frustrations about Glendale City Hall.
Regardless of what voters decide, the city can’t go to back to doing things the way they were done.
In the years leading up to the crisis, apparently few understood the full ramifications of the economic-development plans implemented by former City Manager Ed Beasley and endorsed, promoted and lauded by the City Council.
The clear fiscal picture today is a stark contrast to what city leaders saw for years. It’s such a different view that it gives rise to suggestions that the proposed cuts without the continuation of the sales-tax increase are “scare tactics.” But they aren’t. Through a series of special workshops and meetings, Glendale, for a change, is attempting to be open and honest about the city’s finances.
And so, let’s be honest about this temporary five-year sales tax. It’s not a cure-all; count on more fiscal pain in the years ahead.
The City Council and city administrators must continue to infuse City Hall culture with openness and transparency, especially about budget issues. If they don’t, they can and should expect more second-guessing about policy decisions.
And if city leaders need residents and visitors to pay more now to push through a crisis, they must keep a promise of a temporary tax. No extensions, no permanency. The City Council should also promise to end the tax sooner, if Glendale’s finances improve before the end of five years.
Voters should not feel good about a yes or no vote on the initiative. It’s a horrible situation. But we believe voting no on Proposition 457 does more to help Glendale address a crisis and preserve the city residents want and expect.