Cave Creekers have always challenged the status quo

There are always two sides to every story. It is wise to make sure you listen to both and seek out the truth. Much as been said about the massive $40,016,980 2021-2022 budget passed unanimously by the Council. For a small town of 5,766 (2020 census) this amounts to nearly $7,000 spent for every person in Cave Creek.

So, does Cave Creek’s financial strength really meet the challenge? It may be time for a dose of reality. The impact of national economic issues is about to hit state, county and local government like sledgehammer. The inflation rate of 9.1% or 12.3% in Arizona will suppress sales tax revenue. The loss of sales tax revenue and rising interest rates will lead to a major homebuilding slowdown. You may recall that during the 2008 recession Cave Creek home construction permits dropped from a few hundred a year to near zero. The Town was reeling with layoffs and reduced hours because of the unplanned and significant loss of revenue. Is the Town ready for the coming 2022-2023 recession? Not according to the Council’s recently passed budget.

The Council has been looking at the Town’s budget through rose-colored glasses. Hoping for the best and not preparing for the worst. A good example of this is the agreement the Council signed for you effective January 3, 2022, committing Cave Creek taxpayers to a 25-year financially open-ended contract with Daisy Mountain Fire. As a part of this activity the Council approved a $170,000 a year employment agreement for a Town employee to oversee Daisy Mountain Fire. The new emergency services contract has been sold as a “free” service. This is a loss-leader agreement placing Cave Creek residents on the hook for what is sure to be property tax or increases in sales tax going forward. The Town’s finances and ridiculously long 25-year agreement as a free service is unsustainable.

Also, this Council promised the community in a press release $17.1M for the sale of part of the Cave Creek Water Company’s 500+ customers. Instead, they entangled Cave Creek residents in an unwinnable lawsuit and lost. In the end, Cave Creek’s net gain was close to $0.00. They never publicly released the exact accounting of this debacle. In the last 3+ years the Town Council held private executive sessions approximately 100 times.

As mentioned earlier, residents have always challenged the status quo. The official birth date, or incorporation of the Town of Cave Creek, was July 8, 1986. The majority vote of those living within the proposed municipal boundaries to approve incorporation was never a sure thing. In fact, incorporation had been attempted twice before and failed. Not to be deterred by naysayers, a handful of Cave Creek leaders stepped forward to prevent the certain annexation by the City of Phoenix.

The Cave Creek Incorporating Committee worked tirelessly to make the Town of Cave Creek a reality and on election eve of July 8, 1986, incorporation prevailed by a small margin. Today, 36-years later, there are only three remaining members of the Cave Creek Incorporation Committee living in Cave Creek: Former Cave Creek Mayor Jackie Davis, and John and Cheri Hoeppner.

Remember there are two sides to every story. If you’re not willing to listen to both sides, don’t be so quick to make your judgment on what you heard.

— Submitted by Eileen Wright