By Taylor Griffith | Pinal Central
COOLIDGE — It was a monumental year for investments into public infrastructure and services and economic development in the city of Coolidge. However, Mayor Jon Thompson and City Manager Rick Miller recall a time when it wasn’t clear how they would afford their staff or desired projects without incurring some form of debt.
Now entering his ninth year as mayor, Thompson said public investments made this year are a far cry from what was possible when he first rose to local politics 20 years ago.
“When I first got on the council, we were almost broke,” he said.
This year, however, the city directed millions into funding its public safety retirement system and on improvements to the wastewater management and delivery system and major roads, all while incurring little to no debt aside from one roadway bond issue, which they cannot begin paying back just yet, says Miller.
