Related articles:

Less costly park project on OV ballot

Other articles by Lourdes Medrano:

Sabino senior is in bowl band Job keeps him in the hot seat Confederacy is their specialty Community notes New fire board will remain as is, for now School boasts 14 Merit semifinalists Community notes Oro Valley council to consider hiring freeze this weekOro Valley to consider hiring freeze Park plans now uncertain

Health Care
Rio Salado College
PA's/Online Instructors Education
Assessment Technology, Inc
Social Studies Content Writer General
CORT
WAREHOUSE/DRIVER Construction
Komatsu Equipment Co
Mechanic General
CORT
Warehouse Supervisor

A much-debated bond issue to develop a 213-acre park in Oro Valley known as the Naranja Town Site will be put to a public vote in November.

After more than two hours of heated discussion and public input, the Oro Valley Town Council voted 5-2 to place before residents the less costly project option of $48.6 million. Dissenting were Councilmen Terry Parish and Kenneth "KC" Carter.

The vote came after the council considered different versions of the park with estimated costs ranging from $48.6 million to $154 million.

"We have to start small and move forward," said Vice Mayor Al Kunisch, after noting that he has heard from many residents who are "not supportive of the park."

A last-ditch effort to let residents vote on a $154 million bond issue failed on a 4-3 vote.

Mayor Paul Loomis and Parish supported Councilman Barry Gillaspie's motion to place the all-encompassing option on the ballot, but that was not enough for it to pass.

Instead, the approved option will ask voters to authorize the town to issue and sell $48.6 million in general obligation bonds to pay for the project's earthwork, infrastructure, play fields, ball courts and parking.

The defeated option also included an aquatics facility, a community center with a theater and a music pavilion.

If residents approve the bond issue, property-tax rates initially will increase by about 48 cents per $100 assessed valuation once bonds are issued in March 2009, said Stacey Lemos, the town's finance director.

That is about $10.20 a month on a house with a market value of $300,000, Lemos said.

Assuming assessed-valuation growth, the tax rate is projected to drop over time, she said.

The council still must approve the official wording of the ballot question.