By a 2-to-1 margin, Marana voters approved the Home Rule Option in Tuesday's night's election. It was an all mail election for the second time.

Over the next week, thousands of young adults will walk across a stage to receive their high school diplomas. Many of them will take that special certificate knowing what the next step in life will be, others will still be trying to figure out the next chapter.

Marana voters have until May 21 to decide whether or not they will support a solo ballot measure relating to the town’s home rule option.

Last month, Marana voters received a ballot in the mail with just one question on it. But it’s a question that has a huge impact on how our local government serves residents and business owners over the next four years.

Even though Dave Safier writes “Say yes to expanding Medicaid”. On the surface this expansion of Medicaid looks like a no-brainer to many. 200,000+ Arizonans become eligible for coverage; 90 percent of the cost is covered by the feds; the remaining 10% paid through a hospital tax, which is supported by the hospitals who will supposedly see a greatly reduced demand for free services.

Despite a struggling national economy, the 2013-2014 fiscal year budgets are looking optimistic for the northwest towns of Oro Valley and Marana.

For the sixth straight year, the Town of Marana Finance Department was honored with the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA). 

MOVIES

As the deadline passed for the nation’s across-the-board budget cuts known as sequestration, the failure of Democrats and Republicans to strike a deal before March 1 now means $85 billion will be reduced from government programs and federal agencies over the next 10 months, the consequences of which could also be felt locally, though likely not immediately. 

This article is in reply to a recent Special to The Explorer written by Jo Holt published in the Feb. 20 issue of the paper. Because Arizona has had two balanced General Fund budgets in a row, our state is ranked number one in the nation for business startups.  We went from 46th to number four in private sector job creation. We are 10th in overall great business climate compared to California which is ranked 50th.  During the past four-year recessionary period, we never let K-12 public school per pupil funding go below $9,000 (federal, state plus local funding). We mortgaged the Senate, House and Executive buildings in order to protect K-12 education funding. The north side of Tucson has four outstanding public school districts in Catalina Foothills, Amphi, Marana and Flowing Wells. We have more charter schools per capita and more school choice than any state. We have open enrollment between public school districts, tuition tax credits and a great home school program.

With the Oro Valley Police Department having its School Resource Officer (SRO) program well established and the state’s governor calling to expand state funding, the Marana and Tucson police departments have to consider following suit. 

Viable activities being denied

In her State of the State address last Tuesday, Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer expressed her continued optimism about the direction of Arizona’s economy, and called for increased competition in the realms of job creation and education.

Town council and staff are proud to say that Marana has been one of the region’s success stories over the past few years.

The numbers we should all be concerned about: 23% is the largest portion of our workforce in Pima County.  This sector works in the service industry. Followed by Government sector at 19%.

An UnAmerican thing to say

Tucson Mayor Jonathan Rothschild recently announced his endorsement of Jo Holt, Democratic candidate for the AZ State Senate in District 11. Of Holt, Mayor Rothschild said: “Jo Holt is exactly what our state legislature needs. A retired research scientist, Jo knows how to solve problems, stick to a budget and produce results. She is a pragmatist who will represent the people of her district regardless of their political affiliation. ”

In Regards to Al Melvin’s tirade on Democrats

Vote no on Prop 204

Final concert of this summer’s bluegrass series is Sept. 8

Ryan’s plan would fix Medicare

Name: Vic Williams

Name: Ally Miller

Name: Mike Hellon

Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick, a candidate in Arizona’s Congressional District 1, today is launching an “Arizona Values, Arizona First” tour in the final two weeks before the Aug. 28 primary as part of her ongoing efforts to talk with voters about issues that matter.