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Brewer informed on community's needs
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| Mayor speaks: Gov. Jan Brewer listens while Benson Mayor Mark Fenn discusses state of the city. The governor was in town last week pushing for a one-cent sales-tax increase. (Dave Brown/Photo.) |
Thelma Grimes/San Pedro Valley News-Sun
Elected officials and area business leaders told Gov. Jan Brewer about local programs aimed at economic growth and talked about what the community needs from the state to continue recovering from the recession.
Brewer visited Benson Friday on her way to Willcox and Graham County as she talked about the need for voters to approve the one-cent sales tax increase in the May 18 election.
In a 45-minute program, Mayor Mark Fenn led a group of speakers who told the governor what Benson is doing to improve the economy.
Fenn said Benson has stayed ahead of the recession, cutting spending two years ago. By being fiscally responsible, the two-term mayor said they have been able to avoid layoffs and furloughs.
However, Fenn said city officials are worried about state-shared revenues, and how cuts might affect the city's 2010-2011 fiscal year. He asked the Republican governor not to allow changes to the formula on how the revenues are currently tallied for each city, or resort to paying towns with IOUs.
Fenn also asked the governor to ask the State Land Department to consider selling the city more trust land located around the Benson Municipal Airport.
Brewer commended Benson and other Arizona cities for doing what was needed in tough economic times. While some smaller cities cut spending two and three years ago, Brewer said state representatives continued to spend even depleting rainy-day funds when it "wasn't raining."
George Scott, of the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group, said they are doing their part by enacting a new program to take over bankrupt housing developments around Benson.
Construction to revive the House Ridge Estates development off Pearl Street begins next week.
However, Scott said getting through the red tape with such projects is tough, asking the governor to loosen permitting restrictions.
Brewer commended the project, telling about 30 people in attendance that they cannot wait for the state to take action.
"The wheels of government sometimes move very slowly," she said. "We do need to make it easier for small businesses to do business and not hinder them."
Bob Cashdollar, CEO of Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. (ANPI), spoke about the success of the plant in St. David.
With 97 full-time employees, Cashdollar said ANPI has become the largest supplier of fertilizers for vegetables, but said with U.S. restrictions, exports to Mexico have increased to 35 percent.
Cashdollar said ANPI gives back to the community and state, but asked the government to do more with property taxes and more incentives for job training.
Brewer said what ANPI has accomplished is "impressive" and has a business plan similar to the state's, noting the only different is "yours is moving forward because you have cooperation."
"We need to be more competitive to be able to compete with other states like Texas to bring more businesses here," she said.
Geoff Oldfather, a spokesman for Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, spoke about local economic development grant programs, and to close the session, David Woodall, superintendent of the Benson School District talked about educational needs for Benson and St. David.
Woodall said if voters do not approve the sales-tax increase in May, education, which makes up 60 percent of the state's overall budget, will suffer even deeper cuts.
Elected officials and area business leaders told Gov. Jan Brewer about local programs aimed at economic growth and talked about what the community needs from the state to continue recovering from the recession.
Brewer visited Benson Friday on her way to Willcox and Graham County as she talked about the need for voters to approve the one-cent sales tax increase in the May 18 election.
In a 45-minute program, Mayor Mark Fenn led a group of speakers who told the governor what Benson is doing to improve the economy.
Fenn said Benson has stayed ahead of the recession, cutting spending two years ago. By being fiscally responsible, the two-term mayor said they have been able to avoid layoffs and furloughs.
However, Fenn said city officials are worried about state-shared revenues, and how cuts might affect the city's 2010-2011 fiscal year. He asked the Republican governor not to allow changes to the formula on how the revenues are currently tallied for each city, or resort to paying towns with IOUs.
Fenn also asked the governor to ask the State Land Department to consider selling the city more trust land located around the Benson Municipal Airport.
Brewer commended Benson and other Arizona cities for doing what was needed in tough economic times. While some smaller cities cut spending two and three years ago, Brewer said state representatives continued to spend even depleting rainy-day funds when it "wasn't raining."
George Scott, of the Southeast Arizona Economic Development Group, said they are doing their part by enacting a new program to take over bankrupt housing developments around Benson.
Construction to revive the House Ridge Estates development off Pearl Street begins next week.
However, Scott said getting through the red tape with such projects is tough, asking the governor to loosen permitting restrictions.
Brewer commended the project, telling about 30 people in attendance that they cannot wait for the state to take action.
"The wheels of government sometimes move very slowly," she said. "We do need to make it easier for small businesses to do business and not hinder them."
Bob Cashdollar, CEO of Apache Nitrogen Products, Inc. (ANPI), spoke about the success of the plant in St. David.
With 97 full-time employees, Cashdollar said ANPI has become the largest supplier of fertilizers for vegetables, but said with U.S. restrictions, exports to Mexico have increased to 35 percent.
Cashdollar said ANPI gives back to the community and state, but asked the government to do more with property taxes and more incentives for job training.
Brewer said what ANPI has accomplished is "impressive" and has a business plan similar to the state's, noting the only different is "yours is moving forward because you have cooperation."
"We need to be more competitive to be able to compete with other states like Texas to bring more businesses here," she said.
Geoff Oldfather, a spokesman for Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, spoke about local economic development grant programs, and to close the session, David Woodall, superintendent of the Benson School District talked about educational needs for Benson and St. David.
Woodall said if voters do not approve the sales-tax increase in May, education, which makes up 60 percent of the state's overall budget, will suffer even deeper cuts.
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Reader Comments
The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bensonnews-sun.com.
Vigilante1 wrote on Mar 13, 2010 10:34 AM:
" The problem is our governments for the most part are run by these same people who have never understood nor practiced fiscal responsibility in their own lives. We are run by a bunch of "spend now and pay for it later" individuals from the local governments all the way up to our glorious saviour leader Barry Obama. Who despite the feds already running on IOUs, wants to ram a TRILLION dollar health care bill down our throats. Its time for we the people to take back our government, put things in order, and throw out these irresponsible bums! "
Thats right wrote on Mar 15, 2010 8:13 PM:
" That's right vigilante 1.
You tell em.
Let's start right here in BENSON OK? "
You tell em.
Let's start right here in BENSON OK? "
the truth wrote on Mar 21, 2010 12:59 AM:
" i know this may not make the comments but come on where were all of you teabaggers when bush crammed medicare down our throats?its true this new bill is no good because without the public option not a whole lot will change.but hey only 2/3 of home forclosures in the country are due to out of control medical bills and according to most reports out healthcare system is like 36th ranked in the entire world )according to length of life,infant mortality and obesity).but brewer is like obama just saying well i didnt create this problem it was janet before me.so continue to blame all problems on obama and tipton and suagee without taking a look in the mirror.the funniest thing is all the teabaggers with signs like keep your government hands off my medicare...just dont make sense. "
most folks wrote on Mar 22, 2010 1:15 PM:
" A vigilante is someone who ILLEGALLY punishes someone for perceived offenses, or participates in a group which metes out extrajudicial punishment to such a person, at times even by lynching. Often the vigilante may follow a complete different definition of criminal than the local law. Vigilante behavior may differ in degree of violence. In some cases vigilantes may assault targets verbally, physically attack them or vandalize their property.
Yep it fits. It fails to mention using poor grammar when writing their twisted opinion. "
Yep it fits. It fails to mention using poor grammar when writing their twisted opinion. "
BILLY wrote on Mar 10, 2010 10:17 AM:
The state did the same thing, as did some counties, cities and school districts. Now they expect the taxpayers to bail them out of their foolishness. Learn to do without like the people who have savings have done for years. No sales tax hike to bail out fools. "