Editor, Casa Grande Dispatch:
The citizens of Pinal County spoke loudly and clearly that access to higher education across Pinal County was important to them and that they were willing to pay the tab necessary to support that importance when they overwhelmingly passed the bond election that provided the funds needed to improve the existing campuses and build new campuses in San Tan Valley and Maricopa. It is only a temporary circumstance that the tax base in Pinal County is at its lowest valuation in two decades that necessitates a tax increase to equip and staff the two campuses in order to get them open and serving the citizenry. That majority of citizens have already voted in favor of opening these campuses. In fact the opening of the campuses will play an important role in improving the economic well being in Pinal County that will lead to an expanding tax base and lower taxes over time by helping to attract industry that values a community that demonstrates the value of education and has the facilities and institutions available for career enhancement and employee education and training.
It’s no longer a question of which comes first. The citizens have already instructed us to invest in education so that industry will continue to invest in us by expanding payroll, creating new employment opportunities close to home and as a result, an improved and growing economy will lower our tax rates.
It may not be much in the way of reassurance to the opposing forces but it provides me comfort in knowing that time and an improving economy will once again allow the board to decrease tax rates over time to continue to generate the funds necessary to conduct the business that the board was elected to conduct on all of our behalves. It also provides me great comfort to know that my grandchildren will be able to benefit from better and better education opportunities right
in their own backyards because this board understood their duty and voted to pass the budget necessary to implement the goals already established by the citizens.
~Bill Bridwell
Casa Grande
