West Valley View - February 10, 2016

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 AVONDALE WOMAN ACCUSED IN MURDER FOR HIRE PLOT, PAGE A2

westvalleyview.com — the newspaper of Avondale, Buckeye, Goodyear, Litchfield Park & Tolleson, AZ 50¢ Wednesday, February 10, 2016 (623) 535-8439

INSIDE

Avondale rate hike decision due

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by Glenn Gullickson

City Council expected to vote on water rate increase after public hearing staff writer

The Avondale City Council is expected to vote on increasing water and sewer rates after a public hearing on the issue is held at the council’s Feb. 16 meeting. The meeting will provide the last chance for residents to comment on the proposed increase

during the public hearing scheduled to start at 7 p.m. at the City Hall Council Chambers, 11465 W. Civic Center Drive, Avondale. “The council has been very clear, they want to hear from residents,” said Abbe Yacoben, the city’s finance and budget director. The proposal being considered would increase water and sewer rates by an average of 15

percent effective March 17. It would be the first rate hike for the utilities since 2009 and could be the first of three proposed increases, with additional 15 percent bumps in 2018 and 2020. The additional increases would need final approval in future years. (See Rate hike on Page A5)

SHOPPING SPREE

TO AIR IS HUMAN Air show returns to Buckeye. See photos on Page A14.

ALL EARS New exhibits open at Wildlife World Zoo — Page A4.

DAILY UPDATES! News Updates and fresh Classified ads posted Monday - Friday at 4:30 p.m. online at www.westvalleyview.com Volume 30, No. 80 40 Pages 2 Sections Circulation: 71,173 INDEX Classifieds .................. B10 Editorials & Letters ........ A6 Obituaries .................... A21 Sports ........................... B1 Briefcase ..................... A10 Pet of the Week ........... A20 9 Days a Week............. A16 Recycle this paper

View photo by Ray Thomas

THE FRASER FAMILY of Buckeye — Bo, Bella, Bob, Brody, Blaise and Brynn — shops for a cause Jan. 31 at Bashas’ in the Verrado community in Buckeye. Summit Community Church members participated in the inaugural Clear the Shelves event, a challenge to completely buy out the store and donate everything to the Phoenix Rescue Mission. Read the story on Page A5.

W.V. retail sales growing Ducey Cities cite growth, economy as reasons for increase deposition denied

by Kathleen Stinson staff writer

As the West Valley continues to absorb more of the growth percentage-wise than any other metro area in Phoenix, its piece of the retail pie continues to expand as well. Buckeye’s total retail sales tax, not including construction, increased 12.59 percent from 2014 to 2015, said Len Becker, economic development director for the city. Goodyear’s total sales tax revenues also increased by about 60 percent from January through November 2015, according to the city. In Avondale, retail sales tax revenues increased 7.6 percent from fiscal year 2014 to fiscal year 2015, according to the city. Fiscal year 2014 began on July 1, 2013. Litchfield Park’s retail tax receipts increased 8.8 percent in calendar year 2015, according to the city. Jim Rumpeltes, economic development director for Litchfield Park, said he attributes the

increase to an improvement in the economy. Tolleson’s retail sales tax revenues increased by 21.8 percent from fiscal year 2014 through fiscal year 2015. All of the city’s economic development efforts go toward increasing retail revenue, City Manager Reyes Medrano Jr. said. “For the last 10 years, we have been actively pursuing nothing but retail revenue-generating businesses,” Medrano said. In Buckeye, two main factors are driving the trend — Interstate 10 running through the city and growth in housing and population. Sixty-five thousand cars and trucks drive through the city every day on I-10, Becker said. Buckeye is a gateway in and out of metro Phoenix and is the first major retail center when travelers drive into the metro area from the west

(See Retail on Page A4)

Judge denies defense’s request to depose governor in freeway shootings case by Emily Toepfer assistant editor

A Superior Court judge ruled Tuesday to deny a request by defense attorneys to depose Gov. Doug Ducey in the freeway shooting case. Attorneys for Leslie Merritt Jr. filed a motion Feb. 3 requesting the governor be questioned for (See Denied on Page A2)


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