A decision on whether to issue and sell $17 million in bonds to improve Naranja Park is now in the hands of Oro Valley voters.
The Oro Valley Town Council unanimously voted to call for a special bond election this November to upgrade the park, despite pleas from some residents who donβt want pay for the park with increases in their property taxes.
Comments from the public were largely positive during the Wednesday night meeting, with a half-dozen community members telling the council the town needed additional park space, with many youth teams regularly practicing outside of Oro Valley.
Mayor Satish Hiremath said he was following the will of the residents who asked the council to place the item up for a vote and many residents believe the council is supporting the bond issue.
βThe confusion with a lot of people is that the council is voting for or against a secondary property tax and that is not what we voted on. All we did is to vote on whether to put this question on the ballot,β he said.
Plans for Naranja Park include three multi-sport fields, a baseball/softball complex, lighting, restrooms, parking, shade structures, landscaping, improving roadways in the park and a playground.
The costs of the project would be covered by general obligation bonds, which would be paid back over 20 years with revenues from a secondary property tax that would have to be approved by voters.
If approved, the bonds would cost a homeowner with a property worth $250,000 about $54 a year in additional property taxes over the 20-year bond.
More on the proposed bond will be posted to the town’s website at www.orovalleyaz.gov. The special bond election will be held Nov. 7.
