Tucsonans attend Prop 409 open house

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Posted 10:36 PM 9/24/2012 : Tucsonans attend Prop 409 open house

TUCSON - Street repairs and pot holes are on the minds of Tucson city leaders.

Come November, they'll ask voters to approve a 100 million dollar bond package

The quick facts on Prop 409, bonds would be issued in 20 million dollar increments over five years.

A person with a 100 thousand dollar home would pay around $18 a year in additional tax.

The money will go to street resurfacing.

The first of three informational open houses on the idea was held Monday night.

The city has laid out a map of trouble spots. If approved, 85 percent will be major street repair, 15 percent residential.

Tucson resident Gina Martin says, "I experience a lot of potholes in Tucson."

Jarod Roach says, "and at night it's just annoying, especially when you're tired, you hit that bump, it sometimes gives you a headache."

Peter Liao says, "in my experience, I just feel like every time I hit a pothole it causes damage to my car and that's not good."

Most everyone agrees, problem potholes are plaguing Tucson. But drivers are mixed when it comes to the city's bond election.

Residents filled the first of three open houses, seeking answers from city leaders, before November's vote.

Part of the presentation was a city van, that analyzes how poor road conditions are.

City official say Highway User Revenue Funds they once relied on have been reduced.

Assistant City Manager Andrew Quigley says, "some 10 years ago, the city got 51 million dollars for that, today we get 37 million dollars, so we're trying to use that the best we can but we've lost roughly 14 million dollars on these highway user fees."

Even so, some in the audience feel the city should look at alternative funding sources, before turning to tax payers.

Others will support the bond election.

Martin says, "I don't think that's right. there's a lot of retirees that live in our park on fixed incomes, so we don't have it."

Roach says, "It could be a good thing in voting for it, but only if they do a good job in fixing the potholes, then it would be worth it."

The city is holding two additional open houses this week.

Wednesday at the Quincie Douglas Recreation Center on East 36th street.

And Thursday at Udall Center on Tanque Verde Road.

The open houses begins at 6pm and go until 7:30pm