(The Center Square) – A half-cent sales tax to fund transportation in Maricopa County appears likely to pass.
Prop. 479 leads with 60.18% of the vote, with 39.82% voting against it. Voting measures As of Wednesday afternoon. Digging deeper, more than 730,000 people have supported the proposal so far, but a significant number of ballots still remain uncounted in the county.
“While each group and each voter may have had different reasons for supporting Prop. 479, the common thread is that consumers wanted more transportation and voted for it,” Arizona Public Interest said. said Diane E. Brown, executive director of Arizona PIRG. he, chairman of the Transport Choice Coalition, said in a statement Wednesday.
The tax was first introduced in 1985 and reintroduced in 2004, so if approved it would be in effect for the next 20 years, according to the report. Maricopa Government Association.
Specifically, this funding is intended to address infrastructure issues related to the county’s ever-growing transportation. The association says 40.5% of tax revenue goes toward “highways and highways,” 22.5% goes toward other roads and infrastructure, and 37% goes toward public transportation such as buses and “dial-a-ride.” said.
The measure was particularly supported by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce, which argued it would help Arizona’s economic development efforts.
“By passing Proposition 479, voters secured a critical investment in Arizona’s future growth by expanding funding for critical transportation infrastructure,” said the group’s CEO. ) said Danny Seiden. “This action will ensure that important improvements to our motorways, roads and public transport remain on track, leading to shorter commutes, less congestion and a transport network that moves our economy forward.”
On the other side, the Goldwater Institute said the tax would not be beneficial to Arizonans because price levels remain high.
“Forty years after the first ‘temporary’ tax was passed, voters are expected to support Proposition 479, a new $30 billion tax increase and the largest tax increase in Arizona history.” claims the institute on its website.
