The standard Phoenix wrote
Beat 1 of 7
The Promise
Phoenix voters approved a parks tax with three safeguards: restricted use, citizen review of every expenditure, and an annual public audit.
1 · Record fact
The 2008 ballot pamphlet said the revenue could be used only for Phoenix parks and preserves, could not supplant existing funds or be used for another purpose, would be divided 60/40 between parks and preserves, and would receive citizen review and an annual public audit. In January 2009, Parks staff said PPPI could not supplant existing programs because of the voter-approved wording.
2 · City position
The City’s own election publication and Parks Board minutes define the promise. This section does not substitute GOOD|GOAT’s wording for the City’s.
3 · GOOD|GOAT finding
The measure did not give officials a blank check labeled “parks.” It paired restricted purposes with two independent ways the public was supposed to see whether the restriction was honored.
4 · Primary evidence — named by what it proves
States the restricted-use, 60/40, citizen-review, and annual-public-audit promisesOfficial 2008 Publicity Pamphlet · p. 20Inspect recordP-01 P-02 P-03Shows Parks staff understood PPPI could not supplant existing programsParks and Recreation Board Minutes · Jan. 8, 2009 · p. 2View record cardP-04