By David Key —
Sedona, AZ — The checks and balances of the U.S. constitution are being challenged. Greed and inflation have drastically impacted the cost of living. Those in power sow division because they reap the benefit of distraction. Does this mean everyone with money or political power is your adversary? No, because good people have been able to succeed in this country under capitalism through hard work and grit and grassroots campaigns have put honest people into our democratic system.
It is easy to have empathy for those who have lost hope, but those with hope remaining must stay strong in their conviction. There are small groups of disenfranchised people who would convince you that institutions are inherently corrupt and aren’t able to be saved. They oppose major initiatives launched to meet the needs of their community because they see a disruptive system with malicious intent. The only obvious label for what’s happening: trickle down distrust.
In the coming months you will encounter opposition to Home Rule in efforts to restrict the efforts of our local government. They will talk about the city’s budget like a runaway train, yet the approved budget last summer went down by 2.8%. They will cite a parking garage, the cost of which has risen beyond initial projections. If the project was approved by a previous council, then yes, it would’ve saved millions. This is the council that finally had the political will to get this project done. With the increased cost of concrete, steel, and labor these projects became a now or never. Which is why Forest Road should also be considered a big accomplishment.
First off, what is Home Rule? Home Rule is a law in Arizona that ties a city’s budget to its population and inflation. This antiquated law doesn’t account for tourism in its present form. As most residents are aware, Sedona is a destination city and requires more money to upkeep than your average city with less than ten thousand residents. Every four years the citizens vote to allow the city to spend the money it makes over the state’s standard formula. Voting against Home Rule does not lower taxes and it does not stop the collection of tax; it limits the city from using the funds.
The City of Sedona does not collect property tax. The taxes residents pay go to the county (Yavapai or Coconino), local school districts and the fire district. The city does collect sales tax, predominantly generated by our millions of visitors. Their contributions to our economy have allowed the city to develop a comprehensive Sedona in Motion transportation plan which includes the Forest Road bypass. We have seen new shared use paths come to fruition in our neighborhoods, park and ride shuttle systems expanded to reduce traffic, and a parking garage uptown that should benefit residents and businesses alike.
Here’s the key factor to consider when someone is trying to garner your support to oppose something: do you benefit from their recommended position? The secondary consideration: is their opposition a proactive response to values they hold or is it a reactive response to the past? Home Rule is a notable example of how to use this two-step framework to evaluate the opposition.
Does opposing Home Rule benefit you as a resident? No; it would reduce public services like transportation and public safety, prevent future infrastructure projects, and damage our city’s financial position by adding debt. Question 2: is the opposition a proactive or reactive response? With all respect to those who would ask our future mayor and council to be more fiscally conservative, this would not be a proactive measure. This is a reactive response to the frustration of institutional and political failures of the past.
Home Rule is a vote to empower our city leadership and staff to meet the community’s needs. If you seek leadership closer to your personal views, the City Council election is where you exercise that desire for change. Restricting our city from progress is not an act of rebellion. Unity in the face of adversity is.
– David Key
CEO, Sedona Chamber of Commerce
