Households are under intense financial pressure across America, including here in San Tan Valley.

Over the last decade I have been in the debt counseling and mortgage industry as a certified debt counselor and a licensed mortgage loan officer. This has allowed me to have a window into the challenges households are facing with cost of living increases, a significantly increased reliance on high-interest consumer debt (credit cards / personal loans) while seeing personal savings dwindle away. It has been my privilege to be able to listen to, guide and help households keep more money for themselves. I have walked clients through their household budgets line item by line items and in some cases helping them see the gravity of their situation. There is no greater feeling than helping others move into a better financial position. It is my "why" as to for whom and where I have worked over the last decade.

This is why I am strongly AGAINST Prop 495.

The last thing residents in San Tan Valley need is to be placed under more financial pressure. If you are someone who is silently nodding to what you are reading, I get it. I'm a single parent and my household has one source of income, me. Everything seems to be increasing – housing costs, utilities, groceries, gas, insurance, cars and the list goes on. I talk to many people who have adult children that have moved back into their households due to either unable being able to find sufficient work or being able to afford to rent somewhere. This is placing an unbelievable strain on households. Credit card balances are increasing causing credit scores to decline. Access to lower-interest credit has been reduced and there has been an increase in high-interest predatory or payday loans. Many households are month-to-month or check-to-check with no relief in sight. If you are in that position I know that can be a very uncomfortable feeling, particularly if it has been that way for an extended period of time.

If you are not in that position, I congratulate you (and I am also secretly jealous).There are however others who moved to this area because it is the most affordable area in the Valley. I have been in my home since 2005 – same floor plan, same builder was $312k in Avondale and $192k here. It was a very easy decision and probably the best decision I have made in my life to move my family to Johnson Ranch. I'm sure Avondale has more "stuff" that isn't here but I'm way closer to paying my house off here than I would be if I were there. It's easy to look at signs on the road promising everything under the sun if you vote yes, but keep in mind that NICE THINGS COST MONEY. And who will bear the increased costs of those nice things? YOU.

As a 21-year resident here, I also am very concerned that NONE of the names I'm used to seeing who either have spearheaded prior incorporation efforts or who have been very active on social media for a decade or more are supporting this effort. If you're new to the area, I would ask "why do you think that is the case?" There is no local money driving this effort, it's all money from other areas in the Valley. In the local Facebook groups I see the same 6 or 7 names posing as "local leaders/voices", none of whom I had ever seen before the last 6 months trying to talk down or casually dismiss residents' LEGITIMATE concerns.

This is why I am strongly AGAINST Prop 495.If it looks fishy, and smells fishy – it is fishy.

Mike Schumal
San Tan Valley resident

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