A local tax that has funded major transportation projects in Maricopa County for decades is due to expire in 2025, and lawmakers say this is the last chance this legislature has to extend it.

The half-cent sales tax, known as Proposition 400, has been in effect since 1985, when voters approved a ballot measure sent by Congress. Proposition 400, which voters must renew every 20 years, was extended in 2004.

Legislators put forward several different Proposed 400 bills in this session, but so far none have received enough support to reach the governor’s desk. But he has two striker bills in the House, sponsored by Rep. David Cook (R-Grove) and Rep. David Livingston (R-Peoria).

Congressman David Livingston, R-Peoria

“I think it’s nearly impossible to pass a new bill in Congress next year, which means Proposition 400 is officially over,” Livingston said. Arizona State Capitol Times “This is your last chance.”

According to the Maricopa Government Association, the region would lose more than half of its funding to implement transportation projects if Prop. 400 lapses. Since its implementation, Proposition 400 has funded 410 miles of highway, 252 miles of street projects and millions of miles of bus service.

Lawmakers are divided over how much tax dollars should go to transportation projects, especially light rail. The Democratic Party and the Maricopa Government Coalition are calling for a large allocation for Transit, similar to the Proposition 400 bill that passed Congress last year with broad support.

Former Republican Gov. Doug Ducey vetoed the bill, allocating 40.4% of taxes to public transit and allowing cities to spend 14% of funds on light rail. Livingston said the veto shocked both Congress and Maricopa’s business community. Cook said Congress would be different this year, pointing out that the proposal would be much harder to pass, to which Livingston agreed.

“For two-thirds of members of Congress, this is a whole new problem,” said Livingston. “I think the House and Senate are pretty conservative this year. In fact, I think most people think it’s the most conservative combination of the House and Senate in the history of the state. It can be difficult to do things.”

Republicans are looking to slash public transit budgets and allocate more tax dollars to roads. Both the Cook and Livingston bills allow funds to maintain the current light rail, but despite MAG’s call for light rail funding, the city is not willing to pursue light rail projects. Expansion is not allowed.

Congressman David Cook, R-Globe

Cook’s bill, Senate Bill 1246, allocates 26% of funding to public transit, but Cook says the issue is more complicated than breaking it down into funding percentages. His bill’s idea, he said, would be to offset the cost of the bus line that the city is currently paying for with the city’s budget, freeing up that money for light rail, and leaving the money for Proposition 400 from there. Told.

Other bills passed through the legislature irritated Cook because they withdrew funds from the General Fund when Cook said they should be handled by Proposition 400.

“Obviously, we don’t have enough buckets of highways, highways, interstates, etc. We’re raising more money from the general fund that currently needs to fund other things in the state. because they are,” he said.

Cook is confident his bill will go to a full vote in the House in the coming weeks and will be able to send a bipartisan agreement to be signed by Gov. Katie Hobbs. A final stakeholder meeting has been held and the final challenge that stakeholders are trying to resolve is to estimate transportation revenues and costs over the next 20 years. That’s why Cook tells people not to get too caught up in the percentage breakdown.

“You’re screaming you need 41%, but when I say ‘41% of what’ you don’t know. Do you want 26% of a billion dollars or a million dollars? Do you want 41% of the,” Cook said.

Mr Livingston said his bill is much closer to the proposal MAG was seeking. His bill allocates his 39% of the funds for transportation. It is like the bill he drafted at the opening of the session but was not assigned to the committee. Livingston is chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, a bill he tried to schedule for a February reading, but it didn’t happen.

The bill is now appearing as a striker, with Livingston scheduled a public hearing on April 3 in the appropriation.

Democratic Tempe Rep. Athena Salman said at the hearing that she thought it was ridiculous that Maricopa County was the only county in the state that had to ask Congress for this kind of ballot measure.

“We hope that you will go back and look at what (MAG) wants and respect their local control,” D-Phoenix Rep. Judy Schwiebert told Livingston at a hearing on April 3. Told.

Rep. Matt Gress of R-Phoenix voted against Livingston’s proposal, alluding to Cook’s bill. However, in a form different from that presented by Livingston.

Livingston said his investment in the issue came from his previous chairmanship of the Senate Transportation Committee, where he has spent the past five years working on Proposition 400. He said he believes his bill will move forward over the next 60 days and has removed the housing language from the original bill.

If the Proposition 400 bill is not passed this year, Cook suggested that Hobbes hold a special session specifically to get it done.

Axios Phoenix If the legislature fails to pass the bill, some mayors are reportedly considering other plans. This includes a signature campaign to make it a statewide ballot measure and a signature campaign to hold simultaneous elections on transportation taxes in smaller clusters of cities such as Mesa, Tempe and Chandler. .