During last Tuesday’s meeting of the Board of Supervisors, Pima County Assessor Bill Staples called once again on supervisors to be honest about the tax rates and to lower them. Staples also blasted Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry for “punishing” his department for its “good fiscal stewardship.”
According to Staples, the tax roll of Fiscal Year 2020 was expected to top $1 billion.
“I presented in front of you in February and suggested that maybe you try and lower the tax rates, lower the levels so that you did not need to comply with the Truth in Taxation hearings. It doesn’t appear that I was successful in guiding you in that direction,” stated Staples.
“We’re going to be under budget this year by multiple million dollars. We’ve been under budget every year since I’ve been elected. We’re doing everything we possibly can at the Assessor’s Office to maintain the integrity of the assessment roll and be a good steward of the taxpayers’ dollars,” stated Staples.
“It is concerning that you’re not encouraging fiscal restraint but you’re punishing that. It just seems like a very bad message to be sending to the elected officials as well as the Department,” alleged Staples, who noted that Huckelberry was lowering the Assessor’s budget by $700,000.
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