BY LINDA BENTLEY | NOVEMBER 10, 2010
Three Carefree citizens’ initiatives qualify for March ballot
Could council term limits be in Carefree’s future?
Jim Peirce turned in his signature petitions to Town Clerk Betsy Wise in October for two citizens’ initiatives. If passed, a two-thirds vote of council would be required to present a property tax or tax increase to the voters and a majority vote of the citizens would also be required before a property tax or increase may be imposed. Photo by Linda Bentley
CAREFREE – Councilman Doug Stavoe’s initiative for council term limits has been certified to appear on the March 8 ballot as Proposition 421.
Stavoe believes term limits will provide more opportunities for citizens to become involved in the town’s government and, as a result, more will be informed as to how the town operates.
Jim Peirce’s two property tax initiatives have also been certified to appear on the March ballot.
Proposition 422 adds Section 15-1 to the Town Code, requiring an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the members of the Carefree Common Council to present any property tax proposal to the registered voters of the town.
Proposition 423 adds Section 15-2, requiring a majority affirmative vote of the registered voters casting ballots on the issue before any Carefree town property tax or increase in existing Carefree town property tax previously approved by Carefree voters can be enacted.
Peirce said he was prompted to file the initiatives after he heard Mayor David Schwan had said something to the effect that Carefree could impose a property tax if it’s properly sold to the public, and that there were no provisions in the state Constitution, state statute or town code to prevent a simple majority of council from imposing a property tax on the citizens of Carefree.
The deadline for ballot arguments to appear in the publicity pamphlet, the cost of which was reduced by council last week from $250 to $100, is Dec. 8 at Carefree Town Hall.
