VOL. 21  ISSUE NO. 37

By Linda Bentley | September 16, 2015

Yes or No for Cave Creek Schools

Perhaps their campaign really is based on influencing feelings and emotions rather than asking voters to raise their property taxes

CCUSD93 – Early voting starts on Oct. 8 in a the Nov. 3 special election which has Cave Creek Unified School District asking voters to increase their property taxes by approving a 15 percent Maintenance and Operation (M&O) override to generate an additional $4.2 million.

A few years ago, legislation was passed that raised the override limit from 10 percent to 15 percent.

By Linda Bentley | September 16, 2015

Oversight non-existent for median banner program

According to CCMEA, the program earned $4,500 during its first year and CCMEA agreed to make a $3,500 payment to the town

CAVE CREEK – Two years ago, the Cave Creek Merchants and Events Association approached town staff with an idea for the town to place poles in the medians throughout town for the purpose of posting banners to advertise events, nonprofit organizations and businesses.

CCMEA initially proposed placing 24 poles in medians and Planning Director Ian Cordwell authorized a pilot program of four poles so council and the public could see what they would look like.

By Linda Bentley | September 16, 2015

County spending the same just shifting the property tax burden

Due to passage of Prop 117 in 2012, the tax burden that shifted to residential property owners will be locked in for years

PHOENIX – Property tax bills arrived in the mail this week and were accompanied by a lengthy letter from Maricopa County Treasurer Charles “Hos” Hoskins explaining why our residential property taxes have increased by an average of 20-30 percent.

By Linda Bentley | September 16, 2015

Impairment may have been factor in Saturday’s motorcycle accident

CAREFREE – A motorcycle accident over the weekend had Tom Darlington Drive closed off for an extended period of time.

At around 5:45 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12th, a male driving a black Harley Davidson motorcycle was heading southbound on Tom Darlington Drive from Cave Creek Road.

By Linda Bentley | September 16, 2015

MCSO and DEA hosting prescription drug drop off event

CAVE CREEK – On Sept. 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Maricopa County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) in conjunction with the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) will provide the public with an opportunity to prevent pill abuse and theft by ridding their homes of potentially dangerous expired, unused, and unwanted prescription drugs.

September 16, 2015

Welfare use high for both legal and illegal immigrants

49 percent for legal households, 62 percent for illegals

WASHINGTON, DC – Low levels of education — not legal status — are the main reason immigrant welfare use is high, according to a new report by the Center for Immigration Studies. The report estimates welfare use separately for legal and illegal immigrant households based on Census Bureau data, and is a companion to the Center's study released last week examining all immigrant households. The new analysis shows that legal immigrant households make extensive use of most welfare programs, while illegal immigrant households primarily benefit from food programs and Medicaid through U.S.-born children.

September 16, 2015

Poll: Voters following the Corporation Commission stories

Voters very aware of the agency, have strong views on two issues facing Corporation Commission

PHOENIX – MBQF, a public affairs and consulting firm, announced results of a recent survey dealing with the Arizona Corporation Commission; including allegations regarding its Chairman, Susan Bitter-Smith; and a re-testing of a poll question from a couple years ago. We also looked at awareness of the agency itself to determine whether the many news stories this year have made the Corporation Commission no longer "obscure."

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