Oro Valley Residents to Vote on Home Rule Option
At the Oro Valley Town Council meeting on April 18, 2018, a big decision was made. The council approved a proposal to extend the Alternative Expenditure Limitation, or the “Home Rule” Option. This question is set to appear on the August 28, 2018, Primary Election ballot, awaiting your vote. It’s worth noting that residents of Oro Valley have consistently approved the Home Rule Option every four years since it was first introduced in 1980.
#What is “Home Rule”?
Arizona’s Constitution sets a spending limit for cities and towns, including Oro Valley. This limit doesn’t always account for the variety of essential services our town provides, like public safety, water, and roads. The Home Rule Option, however, allows Oro Valley to establish its own budget limits based on our specific needs and resources.
Voting “YES” on Home Rule means our town can continue to decide its budget limits locally. For the fiscal year starting July 1, 2019, we anticipate a local funding estimate of $132.7 million. On the other hand, a “NO” vote would mean sticking to the state’s formula, which could slash town services by 70% for the fiscal year 2019/20, capping expenditures at $40.1 million. Such a reduction would significantly impact services like police, parks, roads, and water utilities.
#Voter Information
Mark your calendars for August 28, 2018, the date of the primary election. If you prefer early voting, you can request a mail ballot for this specific election or join the Permanent Early Voting List to get mail ballots for all elections. Expect early mail ballots to go out around August 1, 2018, for the Primary Election, and around October 10, 2018, for the General Election. Keep an eye out for Publicity Pamphlets, which will be mailed on July 16, 2018.
#Find Out More
For more details, head over to www.orovalleyaz.gov and look for “What is Home Rule?” in the rotating menu. If you have questions or would like a town representative to speak with your group about the Home Rule Option, reach out to Oro Valley’s Constituent Services Coordinator, Jessica Hynd, at 520-229-4711 or email her at [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected]).
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