In the fifth paragraph of the article, I wrote “These Councilors and the Mayor now invoke the old political adage, “we must adopt these new taxes to pay for future promised capital improvement costs.” I wrote that sentence as a euphemism by referring to an oft-repeated adage. The adage does apply to several sitting Councilors due to their own similar public statements, but Mayor Adams has pointed out to me that he never said anything along the lines of the adage. After re-reading it, I agree with him that some readers to may ascribe to him what is written as a direct quote. Therefore, I feel that I should withdraw his name from the sentence. His name is retracted.

Mayor Rob Adams’ solution for the spending pig-out in FY 2013 and FY 2014 and for failing to ensure funds will be there to pay “future capital improvement costs” after next year?

Fiscally “responsible” Rob states: “GO-Bonds can go before the voters in even years in the fall.” Future Sedona General Obligation Bond assessments, if any, will be billed annually on county property tax bills. The cap for next fiscal year’s $36,500,000 budget must be cut back by several million dollars at the Council’s May 28th preliminary budget meeting to avoid the travesty of GO-Bonds on the ballot.

BTW: (1) The estimated cost for the City’s new employee compensation package is $456,988 for next fiscal year. The City looked at the salaries various government entities are paying, including the SFD and one other fire district. (2) The Chamber of Commerce will be receiving $350,000 for destination marketing next fiscal year. This although the over-subsidized Chamber is once again asking for increased sales and bed tax levies on the backs of Sedona’s businesses and residents.

Mr. Normand is right on target (below). It appears that the true ‘Sedona Moronic Convergeance’s (aka City Council) foolish and short-sighted tax and destroy plan’ is now truly being fully realized by the many hard working and retired tax-payers who can barely make it now in the Red Rocks. This scenario seems strikingly similar to what our professional and crookedly corrupt federal governmental fleecers have been doing for decades, soon to result in a spectacular crash. Did you’all borrow their play-book when implementing your foolish plans, as it appears that no logically thinking person could possibly dream up all these things on purpose…..?

‘The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.’ ~Ronald Reagan

https://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=18683

https://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=15070

http://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/Modules/ShowDocument.aspx?documentid=18317

http://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/index.aspx?page=108

http://www.sedonaaz.gov/Sedonacms/index.aspx?page=866&parent=4444

What will be your next ‘hair-brained hat trick’; bank account confiscations, ‘Cyprusizing’ all the local residents in order to make principle and interest payments on the many obligations you’ve hung around the necks of the Sedona city tax-payers? It now appears that perhaps soon, all of you ‘not ready for prime time players’ will be facing a firestorm of indignation and perhaps outright tax rebellion from many of these same residents that put their trust in you smiling, glad-handing poly-tick-shuns.

“…they are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both fall in the ditch…” ~ Jesus Christ (Matthew 15)

I hope it’s safe to assume that you’all (and city staff) don’t manage your own finances at home in the same reckless fashion you handle the tax-payers money. Wake Up and Wise Up, and begin living within your means (the present tax base) before you crush what’s left of a vibrant community. You all ought to be ashamed, but I assume that that’s too much to ask as well.

Sincerely,
John Mitchell

Our next question was: “Do you have referrals from the Chamber of Commerce?” Answer: “We tried going through the Chamber for a while, had tracking devices such as coupons to verify effectiveness. However, WE DIDN’T GET EVEN ONE CUSTOMER as a result of our participation in the Chamber of Commerce. Therefore we dropped it.”

Hello out there! This is not to say the C of C doesn’t send people to “member” lodging facilities. But perhaps it might bode well for council members to take time and do a bit of local surveying on their own to find out exactly from direct sources just how much bang for the buck they’re receiving from the over half million $$$$ they GIVE annually to the C of C.

Baloney to the “contract for service” concept because that should be a mere conservative amount to assist with operation of the Visitor’s Center if anything at all.

Point of contact being that once again “Word of Mouth” advertising prevails as the manager of this restaurant told is “It happens all the time.”

APS has already submitted its proposal regarding “opt out” on the AZ CC docket number AZ CC Docket No. E-01345A-13-0069 – http://edocket.azcc.gov/ – Unless the Council acts NOW to protect us from this threat, APS wants to charge those who choose to take the safe and precautionary route by opting out, $75 to protect our well being and $30 more per month. Retired Superior Court Judge called this “Mafia” tactics. Please see SedonaSmartMeterAwareness.com for more info.