I wanted to take a moment, as private community member to share my thoughts on the upcoming Expenditure Limitation Election in Tusayan.  There are many reasons to vote in favor of the Expenditure Limitation Home Rule Exemption, because it has already proved to serve the best interest of the community. As a Small community that is isolated from the urban centers of Phoenix and Tucson, the Tusayan area often lacks the political capitol to be heard in large forums.  Even the Cache of the Grand Canyon is often not enough for us to move informal conversations into action.  The ability to bring independent funding to the table is often the only way for the Tusayan community to move past polite conversations and take action on both emergency and long-term projects. 

An important example in recent years occurred during the emergency flood.  During the flood response, the Town was able to step forward to complete important projects after other resources ran out.  Sometimes the Town only acted as a pass through, but it was legally and logistically necessary for the Town to be the recipient and coordinator.  Had expenditure limitation exemption not previously passed this would have been a difficult if not impossible role for anyone to fill (because the limits of those organizations had already been met). 

Another example was the line striping project on highway 64.  After years of negotiation with the Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT), it was ultimately the Town’s matching monies that made the project possible.  It is true that not every project results in our optimal outcome, but there would be no possible outcome at all if it were not for the funds made available through the expenditure limitation exemption. Those funds keep debate and discourse alive and well within the Town and amongst its’ stakeholders. 

One final example are monies spent in furtherance of the DMO (Designated Marketing Organization).  Whether the Town spends these monies directly or indirectly through third party organizations, they must be included in the Town’s annual budget expense.  Without the passage of Expenditure Limitation Exemption, it would be difficult to continue to promote visitation and develop unique opportunities and events that assist everyone with promotion of visitation to the Tusayan community.   

In this time when visitation is down and natural disasters appear to happen with increased regularity it is vital that the Town maintain the ability to have a voice at every table.  We cannot afford even a short-term setback.  Otherwise, we will be vulnerable in even more ways than we already are.   

Charlie Gail Hendrix 

Tusayan Resident