Column By Mike Bibb
Apparently, the Safford City Council is discussing the feasibility of constructing a new city hall, fire station, and recreational center.
Costs? Somewhere in the tens of millions of dollars.
Whew, what a deal. I thought we were talking “real money.”
Well, after adding planning and design costs, loan interest charges, and inflation, the prices rise substantially.
Say, $50-$60 million. Maybe, more. Who knows?
Just for fun, I divided $50 million by 10,000 (Safford’s approximate population) and found that the dollar amount for each infant, child, teenager, man, woman, and senior citizen in the community would be $5,000.
“Trans” may have to pay more, because they’re really two people in one.
That’s with everyone paying “Their fair share.” Which seems rather bizarre.
Isn’t it the Safford City Council who — just recently —decided it wasn’t commercially feasible to continue once-a-day passenger air service to Phoenix — after the grant money ran out?
And, isn’t it the Safford City Council that has squabbled for years with other valley communities over golf course fees and financial participation in maintaining the facility?
And, isn’t it the Safford City Council that is presently haggling over the several million dollars it will cost to build the proposed Kouts Park near the cemetery?
And, isn’t it the Safford City Council who just terminated a city manager “without cause” and gave him an additional $190,000, above his $190,000 annual salary, plus health care?
As reported, “The Safford City Council terminated City Manager John Cassella, effective immediately without cause at its meeting Monday night, meaning he will receive his full severance package that includes 12 months of salary ($190,000) and health benefits.” — The Gila Herald, Dec. 8, 2025.
Isn’t there always a “cause” of some sort? A person isn’t fired just because they had a bad hair day.
The city coughed up nearly $200,000 plus health care benefits and told the guy he didn’t have to punch the clock tomorrow because his services were no longer needed?
Where is the “Return on Investment (ROI)” from these kinds of policies?
How many people have ever been fired — for whatever cause — and then paid an additional year’s salary as a going-away gift?
Couldn’t he have been informed of the fact in a much more practical and economical fashion?
Like, “Show the staff down at DES your termination notice from the city, and they’ll get the paperwork started on any unemployment, food stamps, utility assistance, child care, shelter and housing compensation, and other state aid you may be entitled to. Adios, Kemosahbee.” (Tonto to the Lone Ranger)
From all appearances, the ex-city manager must have had a better contract negotiator, advisor, and lawyer than the council could provide.
Now, the city council is discussing how much additional property taxes — private and commercial — would need to be raised to pay for a new city hall, fire station, and rec center.
I must be missing something, because parts of this puzzle just doesn’t seem to fit with reality.
I’ll admit, I don’t have a fancy college degree in business administration, municipal budgeting, finance, or grant and loan applications of various kinds.
I’m just an old SHS grad, retired UPS driver, USMC vet, and 70+ year Safford resident. So, I imagine the more intricate ways of figuring modern financial planning, coupled with appealing sales pitches from banks, lending institutions, and government organizations, are much more “sophisticated” than I could ever comprehend.
Obviously, I’m way behind the curve when it comes to attempting such complicated transactions. My few working brain cells automatically begin to sputter when trying to decipher the terminology and complex jargon in an ordinary, multiple-page used-car purchase agreement.
By the time I finally sign my name to the deal, I’m so disoriented, confused, and clueless about the terms of the contract that I don’t know whether I just purchased a Chevy, a Ford, or a 2004 Prius.
Which is probably the reason when I hear something costing millions of dollars — to be paid, with interest, over several decades — kinda scares the bejesus out of me.
Especially since my name isn’t on the loan agreement, I, along with thousands of other residents, will be held liable for repayment of the loans through increased taxes and other city fees.
Then again, maybe I’m getting off light, considering I’m also obligated to repay principal and interest on a $38 trillion national debt that I didn’t cosign, either.
In fact, I don’t even know how much $38 trillion is… other than that, it must be more than Elon Musk has.
I’ve heard that if a trillion one-dollar bills were placed end to end, they would stretch past the Orion Constellation. Thirty-eight trillion of them must be further out than even the telescopes on Mount Graham can see.
Finally, I’ve reached the “Golden Years,” only to discover there’s no more gold.
Damn, just my luck — someone’s beat me to it.
Oh well, I still have Social Security. At least, I did last month. We’ll see what happens next month.
Maybe it’s all been given to the Somalians. Which might be a good place for Safford’s City Council to borrow a few bucks.
They seem to have plenty and, obviously, know how to work the system to get more of your tax dollars.
Or, here’s an idea — Why don’t we have a special election and let Safford’s residents decide if they want to be taxed some more to pay for a new city hall, fire station, recreational facility, and other multi-million-dollar projects?
Wouldn’t that be an appropriate approach to the issue? After all, it’s their money!
The opinions expressed in this editorial are those of the author.
