Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said voters will need to invest in the city of Tucson if it is going to thrive.
“In my 30 years in business, I learned this: You cannot cut your way to prosperity,” Rothschild said today in his fifth State of the City address. “At some point, you have to invest, and that means looking at the revenue side of the equation.”
Rothschild spent a big part of the speech to a full house at the Tucson Convention Center highlighting recent wins for the city: the ongoing revitalization of downtown, the success of his efforts to get homeless vets off the streets, the 613 lane miles of streets that have been repaved since voters approved road bonds in 2012 and other accomplishments.
And he said he was committed to offering voters the chance to change the current election system, which nominates candidates by ward in the primary who then run citywide, giving Democrats a commanding advantage on Election Day.
He also acknowledged the city’s financial problems. The City Council is now grappling with a $25 million budget shortfall. Rothschild laid some of the blame at the feet of state government, which has shifted costs onto the city.
But he said that Tucsonans can only count on themselves to fund city services.
“Services have to be paid for, and so we’re going to have that conversation with the community,” Rothschild said. “In fact, the conversation has already begun, with polling that indicates city voters are willing to consider a half-cent sales tax to support core services—roads, public safety, transit and parks.”
He said the next step was developing a proposal for the voters.
“Soon, we’ll be asking for a financial investment,” Rothschild said. “And when we do, we’ll have a detailed plan—like we did with the street bond—spelling out what core services the funds will be used for.”
Here’s a copy of the speech:
This article appears in Feb 25 – Mar 2, 2016.
5th poorest city in the country, and DAMN proud of it.
Decades of liberal rule and what do we have to show for it?
No growth, no jobs, no future and maybe the worst roads in the country.
All we need to do is give the liberals some more money…
You can not accomplish your goals by sneaking up on tax payers. They have become wise to your tricks. If you had anything that resembled a formidable track record it might get done.
But now we are taking advice from a lawyer about investing in a business?
Take a look at what they sell.
Much of it has no basis in truth or reality, but rather supposition.
State of the city and a picture of that dufus Rothchild. Pretty much says it all. The idiot couldn’t run a lemonade stand in the real world.
No but the city and county can tax us into oblivion. We have the highest taxes in the state and our city and county government still wants more!
You also can’t live above your means. Not for long. We are $20T in debt nationally, and I wish we had some of that streetcar money to build some roads and lower property taxes. That’s right, the progressives have been so wasteful that we need a federal bailout to lower property taxes.
Adopt the Bernie Sanders mentality. “Let the rich pay for it.”
The federal government is the rich. Take back your country.
Sure could use that $200 million that went to Rio Nuevo now. OR, how about the $190 mil. for the trolley, which goes into the red for about $3 mil a year.
Raise the buss rates to make it pay it’s own way. Take back all the “city owned cars” people take home.
Why not add a suggestion box to the TW as to how we can accomplish the Mayor’s goals by cutting unnecessary and wasteful spending habits? I know how much he would appreciate the help.
Through my own experience, if you email the mayor or city manager, they will respond to your suggestions, comments or criticizm in a timely manner. The members of the city council is another matter. I’ve never received a reply from my councilman, Mr. Cunningham or Ms. Romero.
“Where America’s poorest live: How the country’s once-proud industrial heartlands still struggle with low incomes and poverty seven years on from financial crisis
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2960111/America-s-poorest-cities-revealed-country-s-proud-industrial-heartlands-struggling-bankruptcy-foreclosures-seven-years-financial-crisis.html
5. Tucson, Arizona
For Decades Tucson City Officials “aided and abetted, enticed and invited and otherwise encouraged the illegal entry of impoverished Mexican citizens for economic and political exploitation.”
Now Tucson is concerned we have so many unemployed poor?
What did YOU think Mayor Rothschild?
Maybe we can”cut” our way to prosperity by CUTTING the HIGH salaries of Tucson City Officials, do you think?
Then why did latest over paid manager cut over 100 jobs?
I often wonder if our Mayor, City Manager and Council members live in the same city as I do. Yes, we are one of the poorest cities in America and we look it. Our streets are still potholed, in part due to inferior grade asphalt used to make repairs. Medians are full of weeds. Intersection corners boast a lovely array of “seasonal” homeless beggers. TUSD under performs. How do our leaders anticipate increased revenue when they’ve created a city that is so uninviting, no encumbered by red tape, so unfriendly to new development and business? Are we planning to impose new taxes on our poorest residents? Where is the mission plan for our City? Who is our leader….our champion into the future? Look at Tyler, Texas. It was a city much like Tucson. Look at the Mayor’s City Mission Statement. Find other small cities that have successfully turned around and become nice places to live. I implore our leaders to stop running around as if the farmer just chopped their heads off and they haven’t figured out their dead.
Great point Grandma Suzy. Don’t listen to what they say…watch What they do.
Anyone stupid enough to think a relationship with Mexico will create jobs should not be listen too. Hey tucson city clowncial your village idiot is taking again.
Anyone st*pid enough to think trade with Mexico will create jobs in Tucson should not be listen to. Hey tucson city clowncial your village idi*t is speaking again.
Mines like the Rosemont Project would contribute substantially to Tucson. Anyone remember when Silver Bell, San Manuel and several other mines were operating. Lots of good paying jobs, good tax base, etc.
Now, the city struggles to fill potholes. Natural resource projects can make a big difference again, if allowed to operate.
Jack Jack Attack – I do like the Mayor’s page regarding this:
“As a City we have faced a number of issues during a tough economy and I feel that we are in a great position to continue the momentum with pay-as-you-go plan and our overall business approach to City Government. One of the most important issues to citizens throughout the City has been street repair and we have developed the Pavement Enhancement Plan which will annually overlay 30 lane miles of city streets for the next six years. In addition, as we continue to grow as a community, it is important to use our pay-as you-go funds to enhance traffic flowin growth areas. We are moving forward with plans in 2014 to extend West Cumberland Road from Broadway to Old Jacksonville Road –all to be paid in cash. I look forward to the opportunity to represent citizens throughout our entire community and to continue working on projects that will enhance our city as we look to the future.”
What state is he talking about?
I keep hearing “decades of liberal rule” thrown about but I have to disagree. They may have been democrats but they have not been liberals. Unlike the republican party that has purged itself of all liberals and moderates and even 1X conservatives as being RINO’s, the democratic party still has liberals, moderates and conservatives. Very few liberals have been elected in AZ in the last couple of decades.