Elizabeth Robb, Candidate for Oro Valley Town Council
I proudly served in the military for 13 years, with roles ranging from Captain in the United States Army Reserve to Intelligence Officer in the United States Army, and as a Second Lieutenant in the North Carolina National Guard. My service included leadership positions in Germany and Arizona.
As a Farmer’s Market Vendor running Elizabeth’s Garden since 2009, I have learned the value of hard work, local connections, and the importance of community support. Additionally, since 2017, my experience as a Classified Substitute at Amphitheater Public Schools has given me insight into the challenges facing our education system.
I hold a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Science from North Carolina State University, where I gained a solid foundation for critical thinking and problem-solving. My involvement in various volunteer roles demonstrates my dedication to community wellbeing and fiscal responsibility including:
Oro Valley is 95% built out with 3,100 new residential units already zoned but not yet built. This unbuilt housing supply will meet Oro Valley’s residential growth needs through 2040. Our remaining land needs to be developed judiciously, keeping the needs and desires of all Oro Valley residents in mind.
The Oro Valley Public Works Department already has five and ten year infrastructure maintenance plans. These plans include seeking state and federal money to help pay for the work. A strategy to accommodate increased demand would be to direct growth to areas that have already been sized for additional residents. An excellent example is the Oro Valley Marketplace, which had 500 new apartments approved in 2022 that have not yet been built, and is served by two, four-lane roads sized to accommodate additional traffic.
One of Oro Valley’s founding principles was “No Property Tax” and, so far, the town has done well on primarily sales tax revenue. The new income tax laws recently passed in Arizona have reduced our allotment of state shared revenues, so adjustments will have to be made to reduce spending. After we address expenditures, if additional revenues are needed, I would look to secondary user taxes employed by other communities that are least impactful to our fixed income residents.
I am a small business owner and understand the need to balance a budget. Long term fiscal sustainability will require seeking more grants and reduced spending. I am not in favor of issuing bonds and/or seeking additional revenue streams until we have taken a hard look at where we are spending money and we have made cuts everywhere we responsibly can.
Oro Valley’s current AA+ bond rating speaks highly of our past fiscal responsibility. Recent bonds obtained at 2.39% have been used to fully fund our Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (police pension), develop Naranja park, replace the irrigation on our golf courses, and revamp our Community Center tennis and pickleball courts. Taking advantage of bonding when interest rates are very low, and in a manner that does not require a new tax on residents, is a win for all the citizens of Oro Valley.
Having lived in Oro Valley for the last 26 years in a historic neighborhood that was the birthplace of our town, maintaining our unique identity and aesthetic appeal is as high a priority for me as it is for the residents I hope to represent. Our scenic corridors and small-town feel should not be sacrificed for the sake of growth. Limiting the number and height of apartments at the Oro Valley Marketplace is an example of how aesthetic appeal can be accomplished while accommodating development.
I feel great about living in one of the safest towns in Arizona and am committed to maintaining and supporting public safety. I give credit to our current OVPD Chief Kara Riley who has improved on the good work of former Chief Danny Sharp.
The recent Assured Water Supply Report shows our water supply is sufficient to meet Oro Valley’s needs for 100 years. That does not mean we can be reckless with our water use. I will take water impact into account on all my council decisions to ensure current residents, who understand that we live in a desert, are not adversely impacted.
As an active community member, I will continue to engage with Oro Valley residents. I will be responsive and approachable to any constituent who has a need to discuss an issue or concern.
I am happy to educate any constituent who is interested in learning how to navigate the Town’s website, where finances, budgeting, planning, and project information are available. I will also encourage them to attend council and board meetings, either in person or online to stay informed about decisions being made for our town.
The redesign of Oro Valley Marketplace to the Oro Valley Village Center is an example of how a mixed-use development can provide economic growth, while supporting a struggling retail development. Allowing two- and three-story apartments at this location will add additional housing, without impacting views or disturbing desert open space, and will boost sales tax revenues that will contribute to our economic growth.
Oro Valley is an independent town, but a part of our larger Tucson region. Our town has done a fine job in partnering with Pima County, Tucson, and Marana on regional road, transportation services, and groundwater recharge. I will support continued regional cooperation when on council.
