In just over one month, the campaign to pass Scottsdale’s $319-million bond package in November has raised over $75,000 to support its cause.
For the Best Scottsdale Campaign: Vote Yes on Questions 1, 2, and 3 – the political action committee supporting passage of the three bond questions – reported total contributions of $75,975 between April 22 and June 30.
For comparison, the Yes for Scottsdale Streets PAC that supported a tax increase for road-related improvements last year brought in $48,450 during its first few months.
“I think it is says that the community is behind this,” PAC co-chair Dennis Robbins said. “It is time we pass a major bond campaign to repair and update lots of our infrastructure.”
Robbins, a former Scottsdale City Councilman, is the executive director of Scottsdale Charros, which donated $8,325 to the campaign.
Robbins said the contribution haul was in line with PAC projects and that the organization has an aggressive budget that will go towards typical messaging efforts like mailers, signs and printing.
The PAC has already spent over $30,000 on the effort.
The largest expense thus far has gone to Virginia-based Public Opinion Strategies ($15,700), which conducted a poll in May that showed significant community support for the bond.
The PAC has also paid $6,500 to IWS Public Affairs for computer and website design, and $4,524.57 to Rose + Moser + Allyn Public Relations for professional services.
Rose + Moser + Allyn, which is also spearheading the bond campaign, also donated $2,500 to the PAC.
Nearly all of the contributions came from businesses, labor organizations and business groups in Scottsdale and the Valley.
The single largest donation came from the Scottsdale Fire Fighter’s Association, which donated $10,000.
Along with the Charros, Barrett-Jackson Auction Co. and The Thunderbirds each gave $8,325.
“Some of the big donations have come from large organizations that are users of city infrastructure like the Charros and The Thunderbirds,” Robbins said.
Robbins said these organizations want to not only utilize city facilities but also support them.
Both Barrett-Jackson and The Thunderbirds could benefit significantly if the bond is passed.
The bond package includes renovations to the WestWorld facility that hosts Barrett-Jackson’s annual Scottsdale auction and new sports field/parking facilities that could serve both the auction and the annual Phoenix Open golf tournament.
The PAC also received $5,000 from CH Glen at Old Town Communities LLC, an entity that owns The Glen at Old Town Apartments on Camelback Road just west of Hayden Boulevard.
The LLC shares an address with San Diego-based ColRich, a multifamily developer, according to Arizona Corporation Commission records.
There is currently a zoning application on file with the City of Scottsdale that would allow for the combination of the apartment complex with other nearby complexes to create a 41.5-acre multiuse development with residential, retail and recreational space.
A number of companies that do business in Scottsdale, or have in the past, also gave significant contributions, including Nationwide Mutual Insurance ($5,000); Priority Ambulance ($5,000); and Rose Law Group ($2,500).
Several businesses outside of Scottsdale have also given to the campaign, including Withey Morris, a zoning law firm that frequently represents developers before the City Council.
Those corporate contributions accounted for nearly 99 percent of all the money the PAC received in the second quarter.
Just $1,000 – or 1.3 percent of total contributions – came from individual donations.
Robbins said he was not concerned about the relative lack of contributions coming from individual residents and that he thought those numbers would increase as the campaign progresses and residents in different parts of the cities learn more about proposed improvements like parks that would affect their neighborhood.
Robbins said the PAC’s mailing efforts are targeted geographically to provide that information to voters.
He said that people want to know how the bond will affect “your street, then your neighborhood, and it grows out from there.”