Why we hope Maricopa voters will give high fives to Question 5

With really only one park in Maricopa, we desperately need new facilities for everyone in our community to enjoy.

We already have extraordinary residents who are committed to Maricopa’s youth, businesses, schools and the city’s future.

Now what we need are new ball fields for our kids and more playgrounds. We need libraries, an aquatics center and a recreation center for people of all ages.

Those residents we mentioned earlier realize the need for good planning. Other communities have done it and so should we. And this is exactly what we will get by voting Yes on Question 5 in the upcoming election.

It’s an extraordinary opportunity for all of us. We would argue it is a responsibility, too. After all, what kind of community will Maricopa really be without good parks, libraries and ball fields?

Importantly, there will not be any tax impact on Maricopa homeowners for two years. That’s because the vote on November 4th is merely an authorization to sell bonds for the new parks and facilities over the next twenty years. The first bonds will not be sold until about two years from now – after additional public input and planning.

That’s when homeowners will start paying an average of 24 cents per day. As more people and business owners move to Maricopa it will spread the tax obligation, decreasing each person’s share.

Selling bonds is a fiscally responsible way to finance parks and recreational facilities. It’s what nearly every other community in Arizona does to finance its parks. There are few more important uses of government funds than for public parks and recreational facilities.

When you think about it, now is an especially good time to bond for taxpayers. Why? Interest rates are low right now, and with real estate prices being a little lower the costs for acquiring land for parks and libraries will be cheaper.

And, perhaps out of self-interest, consider what having the best parks system in Pinal County will do for home values. People want to move into communities that have great parks and schools. As an ASU Professor of Economics recently said, passage of Question 5 could be a real boost for home prices.

Voting Yes on Question 5 makes sense for these financial reasons – and for many others.

Just think about the seniors in our community who may frequently use our first Main Library and enjoy guest lectures, or increased access to the Internet.

Think about the Little Leaguers, soccer teams and Pop Warner players who will now have more and better places to play. They won’t have to leave our community any more.

Think of families enjoying our new public aquatics center. Or important community meetings at our Recreation Center. Or more playgrounds where priceless photos are taken and memories are created.

These are the components of a true community. November 4th is our opportunity to become one.

Please join us. Cast one of the most rewarding votes you ever will that will mean so much to everyone.

Anderson served as the Mayor of Maricopa. Farley is the Chairwoman of the Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee.

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