Star Opinion: Vote 'yes' on Proposition 101 for Tucson's public safety and roads

Prop. 101 would increase Tucson’s sales tax by one-half cent for the next five years. Sixty percent — $150 million — would be spent for public safety capital needs, and 40 percent — $100 million – would pay to fix roads. A half-cent sales tax increase is estimated to cost each household member in the city of Tucson about $3 per month over the five-year period.

Some critics have argued that Prop. 101 should go toward only road replacement and repair. We disagree. After learning more about the public safety agencies’ dated vehicle fleets, the state of their too-small and aging stations, and the lack of up-to-date basic safety and medical equipment, we are convinced of the need and that the ratio is correct.

If your first response is that the darn city already gets enough of your tax money, we have a few questions based on Tucson’s finances and existing revenue. Did you know:

• Police officers often wear their ballistic vests past the recommended age because they must buy their own replacement vests, at a cost of $750. Private groups have done fundraisers to help officers cover the costs.

• Police and fire vehicles have broken down while responding to emergency calls. Secondary vehicles have been called out when that has happened; in one instance, a TPD officer’s car died on the way to a domestic-violence call, and the officer ran the rest of the way to the home.
• Cardiac monitors, which paramedics use to send your medical information to the emergency room while in transit, can’t talk to modern wireless devices and, according to the city, are “beyond their service life.”
• 68 percent of TFD’s pumper fleet, 42 percent of ladder trucks and 90 percent of ambulances have reached the 10-year/100,000-mile recommended replacement threshold.
• 65 percent of the marked patrol car fleet and 80 percent of unmarked TPD vehicles have reached the five- to seven-year/125,000 mile recommended threshold for replacement.

TPD and TFD have deferred replacement vehicles and equipment because of tight budgets over the years, cannibalized parts when necessary and kept up maintenance on their vehicles. There comes a time, however, when a vehicle is past its useful life and should be replaced. That time is now. As Tucson City Manager Michael Ortega put it, “Can someone rely on us to show up if we don’t do this?”

We agree that, yes, roads are an acute need. Prop. 101 allocates 40 percent of the new sales-tax revenue to improve residential roads and the balance to busier streets. An oversight committee — the same committee that’s ridden herd over the city’s successful existing road bond program — will help evaluate Tucson’s roads and make recommendations.

The Prop. 409 bond program will wrap up in mid-2018. It is noteworthy that Prop. 409 road projects have come in ahead of schedule and under budget — a visible achievement that inspires confidence for the Prop. 101 projects to come.

To those inclined to vote “no” because they think it will force the mayor and council to cut the budget fat elsewhere, you are mistaken. For decades, the state Legislature has kept more of the Highway User Revenue Funds Tucson is supposed to receive for roads. For years regional officials have thought — hoped — that HURF money would be returned to municipalities. But since the recession hit in 2008, the taking has gotten only worse. We must take care of ourselves.

If you’re concerned that this five-year sales tax would go on indefinitely, or would be spent on other things, your worry is misplaced. Organizers knew a short lifespan, concrete plans and transparency about expenditures would be essential to gaining voters’ confidence.

As co-chair of Invest in Tucson 2017 Bruce Burke explained, “For it to be re-upped it will have to be revoted by the people. It’s going to end in five years unless the public is asked and approves something again.”

Tucson needs help paying for public safety and roads. This is a good plan. Vote “yes” on Prop. 101.