Over the years, both past and present Carefree Town Councils have worked earnestly to develop strategies to diversify and sustain the community’s main revenue stream – municipal sales tax. While in many neighboring communities a municipal property tax is used to provide core community services, in Carefree municipal sales tax is the main contributor to offset these expenses.
These strategic efforts included a Town Center Revitalization Plan. For a good part of a year, residents, landlords, business owners, Planning and Zoning Commissioners and Councilmembers where engaged with economists, economic development experts, planners and successful commercial property owners (Urban Land Institute Technical Advisory Panel) to develop a strategic effort to revitalize the town’s central business district – the Town Center. This Revitalization Plan was approved by town council over a year ago and has been used to establish a rational basis for town council decisions and investments.
Today, as a result of these strategic efforts we are beginning to see the fruits of our labor. Private investment such as the multi-million dollar Basha’s store remodel is taking place with a grand re-opening projected in early October. More recently, the new ownership of Spanish Village is planning to give new life into this center with a fresh new mix of tenants and restaurants, including a new gallery and workspace for world renowned artist and sculptor, Ray Villafane. This private investment did not happen in isolation but can be directly attributed to the town strategic plans and investments which were initially shared with these significant stakeholders. Indeed, other business ventures are following with new enterprises projected to open up this fall such as a new butcher shop.
However, much work still needs to be done. Summers can be slow in Carefree as evidence in the recent decline in July’s sales tax revenue from last July. However, as part of the town’s strategic initiatives, the Splash Pad has continuously attracted families into the Town Center. Restaurants are claiming splash pad goers come to their restaurants after playing.
Additionally, the introduction of Ray Villafane’s one of kind sand sculptures has been overwhelmingly embraced. Indeed, with the attraction of additional consumers to the area, over time, additional business opportunities will be supported.
Economic development and the diversification of the town’s tax base is a process as experts from the Urban Land Institute emphasized to the town during their Technical Advisory Panel discussions. This process includes not only investment in public infrastructure but also using this infrastructure to attract consumers into the business district on a more frequent basis to create a more vibrant, sustainable business environment. To that end, this council will continue to look at solutions to enhance the community’s business environment, diversify our business base and continue to attract consumers from the town’s trade area. This type of proactive effort will reduce future declines in sales tax revenues and provide the revenue to support the town’s services such as police, fire, street maintenance and management.
Mayor Les Peterson
Carefree
