Argument in Opposition to Question 1
Utility Revenue Bonds equal Revenue from Utility Customers equal Rate Increases.
It doesn’t take a mathematic genius to figure out where the revenue will come from. It also does not take a math wizard to understand: If the council were not exporting $80 million per year to the general fund then it would only take 3.25 years to pay for $260 million in repairs and maintenance . . . Not 25 years at 10% interest.
In July 2006 there was a series of water main ruptures in Mesa of pipe that was installed in 1965.
It doesn’t take a good manager to understand that a pipe installed in 1965 is bound to need repairs by 2006!
City officials say this is an example of eroding infrastructure due to Mesa's fiscal restraints. However, given the fact Mesa consistently transfers $75 - $80 million annually out of the utility fund into the general fund, this is an example of lack of fiscal responsibility and appropriate management of city resources. In a privately held, regulated utility company this would be comparable to management taking excessive bonuses year after year and ignoring the fact that pipe installed in 1965 should have been maintained. In private industry the board of directors would call for an investigation and immediately dismiss the persons responsible for misleading them into believing there had been a surplus of funds for the last 40 years. In fact, in private industry this would probably be considered a criminal act. As it should in Mesa.
It is time to stop the insanity and mismanagement of Mesa’s precious resources. It is time to say "NO!" After all, when the citizens asked the city to allow them to vote on utility rate increases the city said NO.
Vote NO on Questions 1, 2, 3, 4
Paid for by:
Citizens for Untainted and Reasonable Elections