The shyster and hard-up-for-money City of Scottsdale is raising what they call 'impact fees' on builders.
Impact fees cover the city's cost to expand water and sewer lines and service. Costs for water and water resources for 1,000 square feet in that area, known as Zone A, would increase from $949 to $2,754. Sewer fee costs in the same area would rise from $480 to $2,611.
But, there are two little problems here with Scottsdale's fee increase:
1. These are not fee hikes on builders; builders admittedly and readily pass them on to home buyers.
2. We all know this has *nothing* to do with infrastructure costs. In reality, the City of Scottsdale is seriously hard-up for money thanks to their failing photo radar program, plummeting sales tax revenue now that the Scottsdale phonies can't buy new cars anymore, and the fact that nearly half of property tax bills are going unpaid this year since Scottsdale's fake broke-ass residents can't afford to pay.
Yep, it looks like we've got just another scam on our hands to extort money from citizens without choice or representation. Typical Scottsdale.
"...(n)early half of property tax bills are going unpaid this year since Scottsdale's fake broke-ass residents can't afford to pay."
Is it really that high?
Even if it's 25%, that's really bad. But half?
Wow!
If that's the case, you'll probably see authorities literally shaking people down for cash on the streets. Then again, I wouldn't be surprised.
Perhaps the whole friggen' fake town will fold into the dusky desert leaving only the true pioneers and Scottsdale natives to pick up the pieces and restore civility and gentility.
Posted by: Joe Jacari | July 29, 2008 at 09:09 PM
Mortage brokers in trouble
http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2008/07/28/20080728biz-mortgagejobs0729-ON.html
Posted by: Clive | July 29, 2008 at 09:11 PM
AZ Republic reported 48% earlier this year..........
And the Scottsdale city council publicly stated in a meeting that they're hurting because sales tax revenues are WAY down due to a standstill in car sales at Scottsdale auto dealers.
Pathetic.
Posted by: Frank Rumbauskas | July 29, 2008 at 09:24 PM
Another one bites the dust: Buh Bye Kona Grill (Scottsdale based purveyor of overpriced yuppie food)
Scottsdale-based Kona Grill Inc. on Tuesday reported a second-quarter loss of $535,000, or 8 cents a share, and the company blamed the drop in profit on higher labor and operating costs and on fewer people dining out.
Same-store sales decreased 5.6 percent.
"Our second-quarter 2008 results reflect the challenging consumer environment which continues to affect both our industry and the economy in general," said Marcus Jundt, Kona Grill chief executive officer.
Kona's reported a second-quarter revenue increase of 4.5 percent, from $19.32 million to $20.18 million. Officials credited the opening of a new restaurant at SanTan Village in Gilbert for a substantial portion of the sales increases.
Kona Grill also has restaurants at Scottsdale Fashion Square, Chandler Fashion Center and 16 other locations across the country. Kona is expected to open three more restaurants - in north Phoenix, West Palm Beach, Fla., and Richmond, Va. - this year.
The company also revised its fiscal 2008 earnings forecast to sales of $80 million to $82 million and a net loss of $2.8 million to $3.8 million. It delayed plans to open a restaurant in New Jersey until early 2009.
"While we have lowered our outlook for the remainder of the year in view of current market conditions, we remain focused on superior execution at our restaurants, as well as managing operating costs," Jundt said.
Posted by: Matt | July 30, 2008 at 02:24 PM