The Tusayan Town Council continues to spend taxpayer dollars at a brisk clip. At its October 3^rd meeting the council decided to spend $10,000 on a housing study with International Housing Solutions even though Tusayan has no formal commitment from Stilo on the donation of 40 acres  of land for affordable housing. It was all part of Stilo’s grand bargain with the town allowing for three million square feet of commercial space and thousands of new homes for well-off part time residents who can afford a summer home (not so much who the people  who actually live here.)

Back to the 40 acres. Because the development plan is contingent on Stilo somehow finding water for this grand scheme, affordable housing for Tusayan is still not on the horizon.

Councilman bill Fitzgerald expressed concerned about this outlay, “The land is in escrow…are we jumping the gun?”

It may be jumping the gun, but it gives Stilo good PR on the taxpayer dime.

The council also shelled out more than $120,000 for a pair of mobile homes which would serve as employee housing. Again this is another cost made necessary because of incorporation.

That’s chump change compared to the more than $700,000 proposed for capital projects forecast  for  fiscal year 2012/2013.

It gets worse. Tusayan may try to set aside more than a million dollars for a water utility.  Guess who benefits if there is a municipal water company…Stilo..who then could strong arm the town into coming up with the water, even though it would desolate the springs that feed the Grand Canyon and the Havasupai Tribe. Under this scenario, Stilo makes millions, the Havasupais and the canyon springs lose their water, the environment is ruined and Tusayan becomes a ghost town with lots of parking space.