Page 10 June 2012 Combining elections on the way By Sal DiCiccio If you’re tired of multiple-election seasons and “invitation only” off-year elections by local governments, relief is on the way. Gov. Jan Brewer has signed HB2826, which requires Arizona cities and towns to align their election cycles with state and federal elections – when most people vote. It’s a win for voters, a win for taxpayers and a loss for special interests. “The Special Interest Lobby” tried to argue that changing the election cycle would cost more and hurt turnout in city elections. That’s like arguing that day is night. Chandler, Scottsdale and Peoria changed their election cycle so their citizens could vote for mayor and city council at the same election in which they selected county, state and federal representatives. In all cases, turnout for local elections skyrocketed. It’s also much less expensive to add several lines to a ballot that’s already being produced than to conduct an entirely separate election. The opponents’ argument that it would cost more requires a disconnection from reality that would seem impossible for most people. What happens under the current system is that municipalities hold elections when people are least likely to be tuned into them – if they’re even in town. Phoenix, for example, has its primary election on odd-numbered years in August when the most voters are out of town. That allows for those who most benet from spending decisions by the city council to inuence that race. Arizona Republic columnist Robert Robb has referred to them as “invitation only” elections. Congratulations to Rep. Michelle Ugenti, who marshaled this landmark bill through the Legislature, and to Gov. Brewer, who withstood massive lobbying Continued on page 18 Councilman Sal DiCiccio 480-941-8954 9:30 – 5:30 Monday – Friday • 9:30 – 5:00 Saturday • 5625 East Indian School Road, Phoenix www.oneposhplace.com Visit our Retail Showroom Also offering Award Winning Interior Design by Paige Bailey & Associates, Inc. The Secret Village Shop three large unique specialty department stores at The Secret Village! Gifts • Home Decor • Garden • Tabletop • Lighting • Florals • Apparel • Jewelry Fashion Accessories • Baby & Kids • Educational Toys & Games • Kitchen Decor & Gadgets Books • Pet Boutique • Gift Wrapping • Bridal Registry • And Much, Much More! 2601 E. Indian School Rd. • 602- 840- 7387 Open Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4 $1 0 OFF a purchase of $50or more! Present coupon at checkout. Not valid with any other promotions or offers. Excludes previous sales. Limit one per customer. Expires 2-29-12 The Secret Village Shop three large unique specialty department stores at The Secret Village! 2601 E. Indian School Rd. • 602- 840- 7387 Open Mon-Fri 10-6 Sat 10-5, Sun 11-4 $1 0 OFF a purchase of $50or more! The greatest gift stores ever! Ya’ gotta see them! Open Mon-Fri 10-6, Sat 10-5 We are closed on Sundays for the summer starting June 1. TAKE THE HEAT OFF DAD TAKE THE HEAT OFF DAD CHILL WITH A NEW A/C SYSTEM CHILL WITH A NEW A/C SYSTEM Family Owned & Operated Licensed, Bonded & Insured Service & Install on all Makes & Models Free Estimates on New Equipment RESIDENTAL & COMRAL RESIDENTAL & COMRAL REBATES & CREDITS AVAILABLE! ITAL N Ʃ W ITAL N Ʃ W ENV , ƴ ENTA dz Y ENV , ƴ ENTA dz Y F , E Y /C ǜ  Ʃ ! F , E Y /C ǜ  Ʃ ! ROC Licenses: 80131, 80132, 80133 R E F R I G E R AT I O N  A I R C O N D I T I O N I N G  R E S I D E N T I A L  C O M M E R C I A L 3231 East Washington 602-957-3745 www.AccuTempAZ.com Bill Murley, President ACCUTEMP IS AN APS/SRP QUALIFIED CONTRACTOR /C • H Ʃ TIG • Ʊ OW  Ʃǔ P • ,  M IN & M 2 R! /C • H Ʃ TIG • Ʊ OW  Ʃǔ P • ,  M IN & M 2 R!

Page 11 June 2012 Rules for gift-tax exemption Attorney Bob Jones By Bob Jones Many clients would like to take advantage of the current gift-tax exemption, but are reluctant to lose control of the assets in doing so. Generally, for a gift to be complete and thereby make use of the federal gift-tax exemption, which is currently in excess of $5 million per donor, the donor (the person making the gift) may not retain any right or interest in the asset given away. The current exemption is only effective until the end of the year. Starting Jan. 1, it decreases to $1 million. No one knows what Congress will do and therefore the only certainty is through 2012. An exception is a gift to a Qualied Personal Residence Trust. The property that may be gifted to a Qualied Personal Residence Trust may only be an interest in a primary residence or vacation property. An individual may create and fund two separate Qualied Personal Residence Trusts using an interest in a primary residence for one and an interest in a vacation home for the other. There are technical requirements for Qualied Personal Residence Trusts that must be carefully met. Assuming the rules are followed, a Qualied Personal Residence Trust must have a term, the property contributed must be valued as of the date of the contribution and the calculation under the tax laws made to determine the taxable gift, which must be reported on a gift-tax return. The term of the trust is the length of time the trust will last. This aspect of the Qualied Personal Residence Trust is extremely important because not only is it a factor in Continued on page 18 Lose 20 Pounds in 21 Days! Save $250 All-Inclusive hCG Diet Injections $445 or Prescription Drops $395 28 Day Fatbuster Diet just $249 Appetite Suppressants Prescribed* * Must be medically approved Anti-Aging Center Specials Take years of your face in about an hour with Juvederm $325 1st syringe* $399/syringe BOTOX $7.99/unit Dysport $2.99/unit Choose Your Medical Weight Loss Plan www.BodyBeautifulSpa.net • 4449 N 24th Street • 602-522-9222 June Specials Before After Before After *with BOTOX purchase, with $75 instant rebate coupon applied, while coupon supplies last. Christian based programs that build relationships... • 3-day Orientation Camp • Interim Classes • Family Groups • Chapel Twice a Week • Mentoring Programs Cutting edge technology... I-Pads for Every Student thanks to proceeds from the 2012 auction. • Individual Attention • Small Class Sizes • AP Courses with Dual Enrollment College Credit • ACT and SAT Test Scores that Exceed State and National Averages Quality academics... ACT 2010 2011 SAT 2010 2011 Valley Lutheran 26.1 25.2 1592 1609 State 20 19.7 1544 1539 National 21 21.1 1506 1500 2010 26.1 20 21 2010 1592 1544 1506 Christian based programs that build relationships • Individual Attention • Small Class Sizes AP C ith D l Quality academics... What makes valley lutheran valley lutheran High School unique? We offer... Thank you to our auction donors/sponsors and all VLHS family and friends for their sponsorships and donations. Businesses are: Skypark, Schmitt Jewelers, Biting Edge Dentistry, Thrivent for Lutherans, Lynne Beyer Design, Antelope Point Marina, Safeway, Fry’s, Paris Envy, Starlight Company, Revolution Tea Company, Trouve, My Body, Massage Envy, Postino’s, Phoenix Suns, Best Glass, Holland Boone, Manuel’s Mexican Restaurant, Sweet Tomatoes, Rust ‘n Roses, Cheese ‘n Stuff Deli, Olos Euro Medspa, None None AZ, Village Health Club and Spa, Art for Fun Studio, On the Veranda, Al Plyler, Baker International Nursery, Best Face Skin & Make-up, Bike Barn, College X-ing, Desert Waters Pool Care, Duke Photography, First Class Executive Global, Fox Restaurant Concepts, Inn Suites Hotel & Suites, Jeanne Carlyle, Modern Manor, Mr Formal, Muse Apparel, Diane and Dave Rousseau, Oregano’s Pizza Bistro, Red Devil Pizza, The Garuna Project, The Johnsen Family, The Newland family, The Village Eyeworks, The Willows, Total Office Interiors, Wag and Wash, Zaps Learning Company. w w w . v l h s . o r g • 6 0 2 - 2 3 0 - 1 6 0 0 For more info please contact principal Robert Koehne at rkoehne@vlhs.org