VOICES FOR PROP 479

To the Citizens of Yavapai County:

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Yavapai County Proposition 479 is a much-needed increase to the overall spending limitation of the government of Yavapai County. I am in full support of this proposition for the following reasons:

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Yavapai County's growth has been exponential - far beyond what the legislators who crafted the state spending cap ever contemplated more than 40 years ago when it was put into place - and our current cap does not meet the needs of today and beyond.

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Simply put, the needs of Yavapai County have far outpaced what the County Board of Supervisors are legally allowed to fund because of the spending cap, despite additional funds already collected and available, including things like the public facing websites we all utilize, infrastructure, roads, and legally required personnel and equipment, not to mention advanced communications equipment for public safety and search and rescue.

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I do commend the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors for placing their full commitment in public safety, which is the bedrock of the quality of life. The quality of life we have in Yavapai County is one of the major factors driving the growth we are seeing today. As you know, I have said I am not in support of a tax increase, because it's not necessary.

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What is necessary, however, is for the voters of Yavapai County to unlock the tens of millions of dollars already at their fingertips and allow that funding to be spent on infrastructure projects to account for the unprecedented growth.

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It is for this reason I am asking you to vote "Yes" on Yavapai County Proposition Number 479.

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David Rhodes,
Yavapai County Sheriff Prescott, Arizona

To the Voters of Yavapai County,

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As a former County Supervisor, I am very familiar with the financial responsibilities that the Board of Supervisors is required by Arizona law to perform. Additionally, the Board’s role in maintaining a balanced budget while funding basic services (like law enforcement and the courts) is paramount. Coupled with the continued demand to identify basic services is the need to develop a budget that does not unnecessarily encumber us as taxpayers.

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Knowing that our tax rate is low and that our Board has carefully protected our resources is the primary reason I am supportive of Proposition #479. Simply put, the voter approval of this Proposition will allow the County to increase the expenditure limit - not increase our taxes.

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A YES vote will allow them to better manage and plan for future expenditures.

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Bill Feldmeier
Camp Verde, Arizona

Please join me in voting YES for Proposition #479.

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A yes vote is NOT a vote for a tax increase, in fact, Yavapai County has reduced its tax rate routinely over the last 10 years resulting in a rate lower than it was in 2015.

A YES vote on Prop #479 is a vote to enhance Public Safety, Roads, Transportation Planning, Watershed Management, Criminal Justice and all the other services provided to the citizens of this well managed county.

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Let us update the economic assumptions established in 1980 with 2024 realities by voting YES on Prop 479.

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Larry Tarkowski
Prescott Valley, Arizona

Today's costs due to inflation have been hitting all of us hard including getting things done at the county level. Please allow this to happen.

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Tom Thurman,
Prescott, Arizona

Vote Yes on Proposition 479 – Change the County’s Expenditure Limit!

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Voting Yes on Proposition 479 will provide needed services in Yavapai County and will NOT increase your taxes!

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Yavapai County is limited on spending the revenues it receives every year based on an Expenditure Limit set in 1980 with annual adjustments for growth and inflation. However, the County provides many services now that were not in place in 1980 related to public health, safety and welfare, roads and other infrastructure. The current Expenditure Limit has not kept up with the needs of Yavapai County.

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As the former County Administrator, I assisted the Board of Supervisors in developing and implementing the budget for ten years, and the restriction of spending funds that were already received by Yavapai County through various sources such as state sales tax, county sales tax and primary property taxes was a factor that limited various worthwhile programs and services throughout the County.

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Annually, we would have to recommend denial of budget proposals from departments that would have benefited the citizens of Yavapai County due to the restrictions set by the County’s Expenditure Limit, even though we had the available funding in place.

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Please join me in voting YES on Proposition 479 so Yavapai County can use the funding it receives to sustain and implement needed programs and services.

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Phil Bourdon
Prescott Valley, AZ