Pima County Supervisors Vote To Raise Taxes

One Pima County taxpayer came before the Board of Supervisors to explain that she had to forfeit her pets because she could no longer afford them prior to the Supervisors’ 3-2 vote to increase property taxes on Tuesday.

Supervisors Sharon Bronson, Richard Elias, and Ramon Valadez voted in favor of the tentative $1.166 billion budget, which will force another increase in property taxes.

Rather than hold down costs significantly, the County’s various departments only reduced their expenses by 2 percent.

Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry claims that the tax increase comes in response to actions by the State Legislature. However, State Representative Mark Finchem wrote this week, that Huckleberry’s claims that the Legislature swept Highway User Revenue Funds are false.

“The truth is that the County has actually received 93 percent of the funds, but spent the money not on roads repair and rejuvenation, but other projects and internal costs,” wrote Finchem. “There has been money to buy land for open space, grow the County administrative staff and build bike paths.”

Finchem was speaking out in support for Marana Mayor Ed Honea who took a stand against the proposed $800 million bond that will increase taxes even more.

Pima County residents will have had their taxes raised 28 percent in the past 3 years. Huckelberry’s plan includes an increase of the primary property tax rate about $.11 per $100 assessed value, an increase of about $.06 in the library district tax, and a $.01 increase in the flood control district tax.

Huckelberry acknowledges that Pima County already has a very high property tax, but continues to buy up expanses of “open space” which results in taking that land off the tax rolls, forcing other properties’ tax burden up.

Supervisor Miller questioned the choices made to arrive at the draft budget. “This is at a time when we hear from residents that they can no longer afford to stay in their homes, they are turning over their pets,” noted Miller referring to a woman who advised the supervisors that she had to turn her pets over to Animal Control because she could no longer afford them on her slightly more than $900 a month Social Security income.

Pima County is home to the fifth poorest metropolitan area in the country.

In April, the Pima County Board of Supervisors, in a 4-1 vote approved a resolution to place another tax increasing bond measure on the November ballot.

The supervisors voted unanimously for Miller’s motion to waive dog licensing fees for Pima County’s retired Sheriff’s Department K9’s. Previously, the handlers who adopted retired working dogs were required to pay for licensing fees.

To read Pima County – Huckelberry FY2016 budget memo, click here.

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