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Scottsdale voters approved a .2% sales tax increase on May 23, 1995, and an additional
.15% sales tax on May 18, 2004, to acquire land within the RSB for the Preserve. Proceeds
from the 1995 tax can only be used for land acquisition within Scottsdale's city
boundaries. Proceeds from the 2004 tax will primarily be used for land acquisition but can
also be used for the provision of Preserve amenities, such as improvements in access areas
(parking, restrooms, ramadas, signage, etc.) and for the construction of trails to
accommodate passive recreational use of the Preserve. Funds for maintenance, management
and stewardship of the Preserve will need to come from other sources.
Other important voter approvals regarding the Preserve include:
- In September 1996, voters approved the use of Revenue Bonds to acquire land using
proceeds from the sales tax increase.
- In November 1998, voters approved expanding the boundary in which the Preserve tax could
be used for land acquisition to include an additional 19,940 acres, and changed the City
charter to provide further assurance that land put in the Preserve would be permanently
protected.
- In September 1999, voters approved the use of up to $200 million dollars in general
obligation bonds. The intent is to use proceeds from the Preserve tax to pay off all
general obligation bonds.
- In May 2004, voters approved the use of up to $500 million dollars in general obligation
bonds. The intent is to use proceeds from the Preserve tax to payoff all general
obligation bonds.
Land Acquisition Process
All land the City desires to purchase for the Preserve is appraised to determine fair
market value. A second appraiser is hired to review the appraisal. Independent
appraisers selected from a list of approved appraisers perform all appraisals. The
Scottsdale City Council makes the final decision on each land acquisition for the
Preserve.
Status of Land Acquisitions
The first ten years of the preservation program, the city has focused efforts on
acquiring private land in the planned Preserve boundary and on petitioning the State under
the Arizona Preserve Initiative (API) to reclassify state land as suitable for
conservation. As of 2007, all private land has been acquired or is in the process of
being acquired. Of the total 19,643 acres of State Trust land in the planned
Preserve boundary, 16,100 acres have been reclassified as suitable for conservation under
the API (Reclassified State
Trust Land - 16,100 acres). It will be necessary for the city to compete at
auction to acquire the remaining 3.543 acres of State Trust land for the Preserve that
were not reclassified as suitable for conservation. A broad based and diverse
consortium of interests have been working for several years on broad based State Land
Reform that would provide additional tools to assist Scottsdale and other Arizona
communities in preserving appropriate State Trust land within each community's boundary.
The McDowell Sonoran Preserve Commission, a
citizen oversight body, provides input into the acquisition process, and advises the City
Council on all matters related to the Preserve. There are eleven commissioners, who are
appointed by the City Council to serve a three year term. The McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Commission generally meets on the first Thursday of each month with the exception of the
two months of July and August. Please confirm the date, place and the time of the meeting
with the Preservation office @ 480-312-2577 or the City Clerk @ 480-312-2412 if planning
to attend.
The McDowell Sonoran Conservancy, a
non-profit organization which initiated the preserve effort, provides private education
programs and advocacy programs for completion and proper management of the Preserve
programs.
Some Preserve Land Has Been Donated
A portion of the land desired for the Preserve has been protected by land owners
through the development review process. Four large parcels in the Preserve were
donated to the City subsequent to the development review process. There may be
limited opportunities for land trades and private purchases in the future. Funding
assistance from other governmental and private entities is being actively pursued.
Not All Land Desired for the Preserve will be Protected
Some land in the foothills had already been developed or was in the
process of being developed prior to initiation of the preservation program. The City
of Scottsdale is committed to purchasing and managing as much land as possible for the
Preserve.
Tax Increase Ends When Land Purchases are Complete
In the event there is no more land to purchase prior to the 30 years
specified for each tax increase (1995 tax - 2025, 2004 tax - 2034) the tax would end at
the time all bonds are repaid. With the addition of over 19,000 acres desired for
inclusion in the Preserve in 1998, it is unlikely that the existing taxes will be adequate
to fund aquisition of all of the land in the expanded Preserve boundary. Additional
funding may need to be considered.
Partnerships Create the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
The Scottsdale City Council, City staff, and the McDowell Sonoran Preserve
Commission are working together with other jurisdictions such as Maricopa County, the Town
of Fountain Hills, Scottsdale Community College and other private groups like the McDowell
Sonoran Conservancy, to oversee and plan for the long term stewardship of the Preserve.