In 2013, Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller informed her constituents that the County’s failing road conditions were a result of poor – but deliberate – choices by County leadership and not a lack of tax revenue. Now, the Arizona Legislature will consider a bill that will require counties, cities, and towns to make better choices.
They will have no choice but to make better choices if the bill passes that would require that a political subdivision use 80 percent of its Highway User Repair Fund (HURF) dollars on road repair and refurbishment. HURF funds are gas tax dollars set aside for road repair and maintenance across Arizona. While those funds are shrinking due to better fuel economy in newer vehicles and the rising popularity of electric vehicles, the state has delivered over $841 million in HURF revenue to Pima County since 1994.
Of the $841 million, only $34 million total was swept by the state legislature over the last 12 years. Pima County used less than 20 percent on actual road repair with the bulk of the money going to bond repayment, and personnel. As a result, their roads look bad, but their books look good.
The legislation, being prepared now by Southern Arizona State Representative Mark Finchem, comes as a result of community input and the yearly complaint by political subdivisions, like Pima County that the Legislature sweeps the HURF monies intended for their use to other funds.
As a result, their roads look bad, but their books look good. The cost for the neglect is experienced on a daily basis by commuters who must absorb the high cost of car repairs.
According to an investigation by Supervisor Ally Miller, over $167 million of HURF has been diverted from road repair and maintenance to cover bond debt since 2004. This left $641 million available for road repair since 1994. The money didn’t go to roads.
In 2012, failed Pima County Supervisor candidate, Mike Hellon, told the public at a candidate forum Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry has “piles” of money that he “stashes” throughout his 20 different departments. Hellon claims that Huckleberry can find money when he needs to. Hellon went on further, “For three years, Pima County spent zero on scheduled roadway maintenance. Zero. Total neglect by the Board of Supervisors and the County Manager. I called Chuck and said I’m coming after you. We have to do something about the roads. I am giving you fair warning.”
The warning has not been heeded and with a rubber stamp Board, not including Miller, Pima County continues to demonize the Legislature while avoiding responsibility for the failing infrastructure and the damage that infrastructure causes to drier’s vehicles.
Many are hoping that Finchem’s legislation will force the subdivisions to bear the cost to drivers who are victim of the failed infrastructure. They want the subdivisions to pay the cost of legitimate damage, i.e. bent rims, flat tires, that result from pot holes and other hazards created by neglect.
County Administrator Huckelberry and others want to pass a 10 cent per gallon gas tax increase. With small businesses finally getting some economic relief from the lower gas prices, a tax increase will surely chill the little recovery the State has seen. Despite the fact that the State is broke and facing huge shortfalls, the newly elected Governor has refused t even consider tax hikes in order to avoid such a chill.
Still, that won’t prevent leaders committed to excess from pushing the tax and pushing back against any effort to restrict their power over the purse strings.
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