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This Week
Gates is for development, without sacrifice BY JAMES LOTT Foothills Focus Contributing Writer
D BUSINESS.......... 13
NV real estate market expected to level off
Wednesday, February 22, 2023
istrict 3 Maricopa County Supervisor Bill Gates said during a Feb. 10 town hall meeting that he’s committed to developing the area without sacrificing the residents’ peaceful lifestyles. Gates spoke by Zoom during the meeting co-hosted by Friends of Daisy Mountain Trails and the Anthem Community Council. Elected to the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors in 2016, Gates previously served
on the Phoenix City Council. He told constituents that supervisors last year passed a balanced budget and implemented the largest property tax decrease in recent history in a bid to spare county residents from the effects of high inflation. “That was really a focus with us with that inflation, both giving people some property tax relief, also being able to give raises to our employees so that frankly we could compete with all the other employers out there but at the same time continuing to provide great service to our constituents,” Gates said.
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors lowered the primary property tax rate to 1.25% (or $125 on a $100,000 home) as part of the FY 2023 budget passed in 2022. The meeting was free of political controversy that has dogged Gates since last November’s election, which election deniers claimed was fraudulent. Courts have rejected the claims filed by defeated candidates Kari Lake, Abe Hamadeh and Mark Finchem. Daisy Mountain Trails vice president, Vivian
see GATES page 4
Dentist expands free services to first responders FEATURES......... 18
Ex-pitcher brings harddriving rock to Innings
YOUTH.............. 21
Diamond Canyon hosting kindergarten preview
OPINION.......................8 BUSINESS.................. 13 FEATURES................. 16 YOUTH....................... 21 CLASSIFIEDS............. 22 Zone I
BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI Foothills Focus Executive Editor
V
olunteering is at Dr. Cameron Kastl’s core. At the helm of North Valley Family Dentistry in Anthem, Kastl donated his time to shelters until the COVID-19 pandemic changed everything. Kastl took matters into his own hands, welcoming veterans into his practice for free treatments for the last two years. Now, he wants to do more. Kastl is hoping to treat first responders at no expense on Friday, April 21. “It’s my way of scratching the itch of vol-
see DENTIST page 4
North Valley Family Dentistry Dr. Cameron Kastl, right, prides himself in offering premier dental services in a family-like setting catered to each of his patients. (Cameron Kastl/Submitted)
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