During my 25 years as a small business owner, my career has been a mix of boom times and busts. Through it all, I have gained extensive experience in managing budgets, industry trends, and developing long-term strategies.

It turns out that one of the most important keys to success is having a vision. With Pinal County’s population growing rapidly toward his nearly 500,000 population, it’s important to revisit our vision of the past as we look to a prosperous future.

Not long ago, Pinal County had a population of less than 100,000, according to the 1985 Special Census. At the time, Pinal County was about 65% unpaved and he maintained just over 2,000 miles of road. Fortunately, local leaders had a vision to invest in transportation that has positioned the county for current success and long-term growth.

In 1986, the Pinal County Board of Supervisors proposed a 0.5-cent tax on transit-focused voters. Proposition 400 was put on the ballot and passed with 51.1% of the vote. This fund will be distributed to cities and towns in Pinal County on a population-based basis. For nearly 40 years, Pinal County has used his half-cent road excise tax to improve the streets and roads in the county and its incorporated towns and cities.

Also known as the “pothole tax,” the program is the county’s transportation improvement and maintenance program. The success of this plan generated approximately $115 million in transportation funding from 1986 to 2006. During that time, just under 400 miles of road were paved, increasing that number to nearly 2,100 miles and about half of all roads paved.

Faced with the abolition of this mandatory tax in 2006, local leaders put the proposal to the ballot again in 2005. Voters overwhelmingly approved Proposition 400 with his 73.7% majority. The plan’s 20-year term is scheduled to end on December 31, 2026. Since 2006, the fund has been an integral part of paving and fixing roads, improving safety and supporting economic development as the population nearly doubles again.

40 years of maintaining our roads, fixing potholes, and investing in our future have resulted in what we are today. A public initiative called ‘Preserving Our Future’ has been launched to help the public better understand the ‘pothole tax’. Our vision is to educate the public about this program and how it is being used to improve roads, enhance safety and develop the economy in Pinal County.

Please come by all means www.PreservingPinal.com Learn more about the program and potential expiration dates as we continue the ongoing community discussion about transportation and maintenance needs. We are honored to continue to serve Pinal County and protect our future.

Jeffrey McClure is Vice President of the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.

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