Gosh – is it May already? Seems like just yesterday that I was humming the melody that accompanies “April showers bring May flowers….” By now, of course, the May flowers, grasses and weeds are drying up – which means we’ll be looking at the possibility of a horrific fire season.
Please remember the basics of fire prevention: don’t throw lighted materials from a vehicle, extinguish (separate, drown, and bury with dirt) campfires, don’t park your vehicle over weeds, tall grass or brush and be sure to clear at least 30 feet in all directions around buildings and structures if you’ re living in an unincorporated part of the county.
The county Board of Supervisors continues working on the FY 2011 budget with a goal to adopt a tentative budget by the end of this month. Once adopted, the tentative budget serves as a cap on the final budget; the board can move funds around, and we can decrease the total amount of the new general fund budget, but the FY 2011 budget cannot exceed the levels adopted in the tentative budget.
The debate has been intense and has focused on the tax rate, revenue projections from all sources, use of budget stabilization funds, salary reductions and/or lay-offs. At my request, the board was given and has also reviewed lists of legally mandated programs and services, as well as those services and programs which we provide, but not as a result of any legal mandate from either the state or federal government.
As you might imagine, the deliberations have been extraordinarily complicated by the need to identify and accommodate revenue reductions and/or mandated increases in expenditures as a result of the actions taken by the State of Arizona to create their FY 2011 budget. Between these two consequences, there will be a 28-cent increase to the county tax rate.
The board and staff are also putting together two budget plans for the coming year: one that anticipates voter approval of Proposition 100 (a temporary increase in the state’s sales tax) and another plan based on voter rejection of Prop. 100. Needless to say, the latter budget is far more draconian and severe than the first plan.
Which brings me to an important plea to the county’s registered voters: on Tuesday, May 18, there will be a special election concerning Proposition 100. If you are registered for the Permanent Early Voting List, you should have already received your ballot in the mail – if not, then please contact the county Recorder’s Office via the county website at http://pinalcountyaz.gov/ (click on elected officials, and then on County Recorder) or call 520-866-7486 (Casa Grande office) or 520-866-6830. Otherwise, I hope you will consider marking the 18th on your calendar; exercise your right as a citizen and VOTE.
Before I close out this month’s column, I’d like to call your attention to several other dates for your May calendar. On the less serious side, there’s National Dance Like A Chicken Day (May 14) and National Chocolate Chip Day (May 15) – I have no idea why these two are connected.
All humor aside, Teacher Appreciation Week (May 2-8) includes Teacher Day and National Police Week is celebrated during the third week of May. I invite you to join me, other elected officials and public safety officers on May 6 for a ceremony at the Fallen Peace Officers Memorial (971 N. Jason Lopez Circle, Florence) beginning at 6:30 p.m. as we honor those officers who lost their lives in the execution of their duties – serving and protecting the residents of Pinal County.
The month of May is also home to the sale of Buddy Poppies by members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Begun in 1921, this venerable organization distributes Buddy Poppies – assembled by disabled, needy and aging veterans in VA hospitals and state Veterans Homes across the country – free of charge to the public. All money contributed by the public for Buddy Poppies is used in the cause of veterans’ welfare, or for the well being of their needy dependents and the orphans of veterans.
And on behalf of all of our county’s organizations dedicated to the honoring of our military forces past and present, I invite you to join us at Mountain View Cemetery in Casa Grande at 9 a.m. as we celebrate Memorial Day and remember those soldiers, sailors, marines and air force personnel who gave their lives in the cause of freedom and democracy. I hope to see you all there.
David Snider, Pinal County District 3 Supervisor
P.S. If you’re still blessed with her presence, don’t forget to call your mom on Sunday, May 9: it’s Mother’s Day. “Hi Mom!”
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