Phx-Suns.Net

SHERIFF JOE’S SHENANIGANS JUST INCREASED COUNTY TAXES; WILL REPUBLICAN GRAY-HAIRS FINALLY CATCH A CLUE?

http://www.phoenixnewtimes.com/news/she ... ue-7453590

"..."The proposed tax increase will cause Maricopa County's primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to increase from $130.07 to $136.09."

Six bucks. With which, if the county weren't swiping it from you, you could purchase a plate of delicious blueberry-muffin pancakes at Denny's, with a side order of two eggs and two strips of greasy bacon.

Now, why does the county have to increase property taxes? What's the need for this additional $21 million or so?

Well, one crater-size pothole that needs filling is the result of ongoing expenses in the federal civil rights case Melendres v. Arpaio.

That's the one in which Arpaio and his organization were found guilty of racial profiling by a federal judge — and ordered to stop, with a long list of requirements, including new training, dash cameras, and the cost of a court-appointed monitor team to implement it all.

The county's Fiscal Year 2016 budget appropriation for Melendres is $23.8 million, a figure that does not include legal fees.

So it's safe to say that if the county did not have to keep forking out dough on Melendres, it may have been able to meet its fiscal obligations without raising property taxes.

Ergo, your taxes are going up because of Arpaio's policies.

I should note, as I have in previous columns, that if you include the case's expenses and legal fees from its start in 2008 through the end of fiscal year 2016, Melendres has made a $51.3 million dent in the county's coffers.

And because this is not a lawsuit covered by the county's self-funding insurance policy (known as risk management), all this loot comes out of the county's general fund..."

Yeah, he is one thing I really do not miss about Arizona.

How did the move go? Settling in?

The move was agonizing, but it's over. I had no clue how much crap I had. The new place is only half the size, so I had to get rid of most of it, which was nice. And Portland is great. No air conditioning, and it's been warm but not Phoenix warm, so that's been a bit of an adjustment. Then again, my electric bill for my first month was only $27.00.

I wouldn't say I'm fully settled, but I'm glad I moved finally. I like it here. It's nice being able to walk everywhere.

Congrats on your move. I'm planning on moving within a year and I look forward to decluttering and just getting rid of old junk that's been collected over the years.

That's one thing I hate about it here. Can't walk where you need to go 99% of the time.

Glad you are enjoying it!

Superbone wrote:Congrats on your move. I'm planning on moving within a year and I look forward to decluttering and just getting rid of old junk that's been collected over the years.

Start NOW. the stress of moving is bad in good circumstances. If you have to declutter all at once, it turns to hell fast. Also, psychologically I think it's harder to prep for a move when you have a full house of stuff. I stayed in Phoenix an extra year longer than intended because I couldn't find energy to start the process.

Ghost wrote:

Superbone wrote:Congrats on your move. I'm planning on moving within a year and I look forward to decluttering and just getting rid of old junk that's been collected over the years.

Start NOW. the stress of moving is bad in good circumstances. If you have to declutter all at once, it turns to hell fast. Also, psychologically I think it's harder to prep for a move when you have a full house of stuff. I stayed in Phoenix an extra year longer than intended because I couldn't find energy to start the process.

Thanks for the tip. Great advice! I'm already dreading it.

I love shedding stuff. I feel great when I do. But I'm not good at actually doing it.