Fliers blame Berman for cuts in library hours

A flier that is being handed out at the Southeast Regional Library is causing the latest stir in an effort launched to recall Gilbert Mayor Steve Berman.

The fliers have been passed out since earlier this week at the library, at Greenfield and Guadalupe roads. They compare the town's proposal to cut library hours by 10 percent to help prevent a $58 million budget deficit in the next five years, to the town's $40 million costs to build the Big League Dreams softball park.

"Why should library visitors be punished for Mayor Berman's $40 million Big League Dreams scandal?" the flier states.

Berman lashed out at the fliers, saying they include lies and blame him for decisions made by the entire Town Council.

For one, he said, he voted against the most recent spending increases that brought the cost of Big League Dreams to $40 million, and he argued that the park is not a "scandal" but will provide another amenity that the town doesn't have to pay the $1.5 million annual operating costs to run.

He also argued that the political action committee, End Corruption in Gilbert, will cost taxpayers $120,000 for a recall election at a time when the town is struggling financially.

The current town deficit is not caused by Big League Dreams or any other reason cited in complaints made against him, Berman said, but is caused by a downturn in the housing market.

"The simple fact is, that the park we wanted, it simply cost more money," Berman said. "It's the nicest Big League Dreams park in the country - it is considerably nicer."

He added that many of the cost increases were because of inflation and moving the costs for road improvements to the Big League budget.

Fred Phillis, chairman of the recall committee and longtime nemesis to Berman, argued that the comparisons are fair, and that while the recall will cost money, it could save the town money in future decisions.

About 54 percent of Big League Dreams' $40 million price tag is paid by the General Fund, while the rest was paid for by new-home buyers who were charged system development fees.

"He wants to take credit for good things that happen in the town," Phillis said. "And he refuses to take responsibility for all the bad things. The question is, 'Was this needed in the first place? Did we really need to spend $40 million on Big League Dreams?'"

Phillis and his committee are currently collecting signatures and need 981 to get onto an upcoming ballot just months before the regularly scheduled March election.

Berman said he is now fundraising for that vote, which he calls a waste of town money because it would be close to the regular race.