Carefree Truth
                     Issue #659, June 22, 2018


Gary Neiss reported that this was the 5th public hearing on the 2018/19 Fiscal Year (FY) budget.  2 workshops were held in April.  The line item budget was available to the Council members and the public as of April 26th.  The bottom line was approved at the May Council meeting.  At that time, an additional meeting detailing the marketing plan was requested by Councilmen Mike Farrar and Gene Orrico.  That meeting was held on May 23rd, at which time the marketing plan and budget were unanimously approved by the Council members.  The last step was the approval of the final budget, which goes into effect as of July 1st.


As of the end of May, the reserves stood at approximately $8.5 million, the highest ever.  The 2018/19 budget bottom line is $8.5 million, $2 million of which will be taken from those reserves for capital projects.  As always, the Town saves before spending.



50% of the anticipated revenues will come from local sales tax (which includes construction sales tax), 19% from State Shared Revenue, and 31% from local fees (the cost recovery model).  The expense categories are capital projects at $30% (this includes the street maintenance program and full repayment of the loan for the Council Chambers building), 27% for public safety (police and fire protection), 23% for operations, and 20% for human resources.



Carefree's contract with Rural/Metro (R/M) for town-wide fire protection saves Carefree residents an average of $1000 per year, the fee to subscribe to R/M's services.  Carefree has only 15 full time employees, and is proud of the efficiency of its small, nimble staff.   



The landscape beautification program on the arterial streets will continue and expand.  Additional crosswalks and the accompanying signs will be added.  Solutions are in the process of being sought for Carefree residents on the Cave Creek Water system.


Mayor Les Peterson commented that FY 2017/18 has been very positive.  He asked if the Council had any questions about the 2018/19 budget.  Mr. Orrico questioned why the actual revenues from FY 2017/18 were $6.371 million but the 2018/19 budget anticipated $8.5 million in revenues.  "Where's that money coming from?"  Mr. Neiss again explained that approximately $2 million would be taken from the reserves for the capital expenditures.  Mr. Neiss added that the Town expects to place another $900,000 back into the reserves by the end of FY 2018/19.  



The final budget was approved 5-2.  Councilman Mike Farrar wanted to talk about the reason he opposed the budget.  He firmly believed that the Town should not be promoting events. These should be done by private companies, merchant associations and non-profit organizations that specialize in these types of large events.  He felt that all events should be held within the Gardens and the Sanderson Lincoln Pavilion, without ever closing off Easy Street.  He said the Gardens are an under utilized asset and that a Marketing Director was originally hired to coordinate with event promoters, not to take them over.  "That's not government's role."  



Mr. Farrar said the festivals lose significant money and are unsustainable.  7% of the 17% increase in sales tax came from remodels and new construction, and he felt the balance was attributable to an improved economy and employment.  He encouraged more activity in the town core, but it must be frequent and consistent.  He felt that Carefree is trying to be something it's not, and is spending too much money to do so, with little to show for the marketing efforts and expenditures.  There is still much vacant retail space.  In the past, cost recovery for festivals has come from vendor fees and business licenses.



Mayor Peterson reminded Mr. Farrar that 2 weeks prior, he had approved of and voted for the marketing plan and budget that had been presented by Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer at the special marketing meeting that Mr. Farrar had requested.  Mr. Farrar said he changed his mind since that meeting.  He had been pleased to see the line item programs but repeated that the Town is not an event promoter.  He remarked that Jo Gemmill produced a wonderful Christmas Festival with a budget of $30,000, and $18,000 was recovered from Magic Bird's gift market. 



Councilman Mike Krahe pointed out the the meeting was getting off track.  There had already been a motion and a vote.  Mr. Orrico said that he voted no because he did not feel that Carefree was getting a good value for its money.

https://vimeo.com/274191737



Lyn Hitchon


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