Back from a quick, post-election visit to the capital in his capacity as vice president of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith says the election has changed the tone in Washington. “It just seemed like there was more of an atmosphere of, dare I say, working together,” he told The Arizona Republic.
Smith says he told Vice President Biden the top priority for the government is to get a deal done on the so-called fiscal cliff.
“We stared down the barrel of a gun,” he said. “Cities have shown how you can grapple with that kind of dilemma. You can balance budgets and the sun comes up the next morning. You can get through it.”
The mayor said he agrees with the administration on the renewal of middle-class tax cuts. Even so, Smith said, it’s obvious the federal government needs more revenue, but it shouldn’t come on the backs cities, adding and he’s worried about a proposal that would remove the tax exemption from municipal bonds.
If that happens, it will cost more money for Mesa to issue bond debt and the city won’t be able to build as much stuff, Smith said.
“There will be revenue adjustments,” Smith said. “I think the Democrats understand that the Republicans are going to look at those, not through tax-rate increases, but through reform.”
