PHOENIX — A months-long battle over whether to allow voters in Maricopa County to vote on a half-cent increase in the sales tax hit Monday after a proposed deal between Congressional Republican leaders and Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs passed the House. It passed and seemed to end. and the Senate.
A group of lawmakers calling themselves the Arizona Freedom Caucus and members of the Free Enterprise Club, an influential low-tax group among Republican conservatives, fell short in a last-ditch effort to stop the effort.
The group’s main complaint was the amount that would go toward 20 years of the tax that would go into effect if voters approved it next year. Set at 37% of about $20 billion in sales tax revenue, they argue that transit benefits only a minority, perhaps as little as 1% of the county’s residents.
Before Monday’s House vote, Rep. Alexander Collodin (R-Scottsdale) said, “Maricopa County voters want a reasonable amount of additional funding for the highway. They don’t want almost 40% of the money to be used.” It’s for transit. ”
Corodin said the bill doesn’t give voters the option of vetoing transportation spending because it’s a package deal, which means they need to support transportation spending to get money for highways and major road improvements. said there is.
Despite concerns raised by Mr. Corodin and other members of the Freedom Caucus, the House vote was not a close one. Seventeen of the 31 Republicans joined all Democrats in voting to put the bill on the ballot if Mr. Hobbes signed it. It passed the Senate in a bipartisan 19-7 vote.
“This is a tax continuation that has been going on for over 40 years, and it will not be for us in this chamber to decide, but for voters in Maricopa County,” said R Globe Rep. David Cook. pointed out. The bill would only allow a vote next year to extend the levy through 2045, he said.
Democrats emerged victorious after lobbying for the bill all year long.
Rep. Marcelino Quinones, D-Phoenix, said, “I expect a lot of new jobs. It’s time to put this on the ballot so Maricopa County voters can decide.”
Republican House Speaker Ben Thoma defended the decision by putting the sales tax extension on a vote despite strong opposition from many Republicans.
Explaining why they voted yes, the Peoria Republican said, “We know Maricopa County is one of the fastest growing counties in the United States. We are the fastest growing county in the United States. It’s one of the states that does, and it makes sense.” Good governance and low taxes. ”
He said the money that has flowed into county roads, carriageways and transit systems over the past 40 years has helped avoid “uncontrollable congestion in many large cities,” and that proactive effort must continue. said no.
The deal also garnered support from some local Republican legislators.
Rep. Selina Bliss (Republican, Prescott) said she has a selfish interest in ensuring Maricopa County voters have a chance to continue raising cash locally.
“The First Legislative District, which I represent, will have to fight for roads and highways with the same money if this bill does not pass,” she told colleagues. County, you can imagine what it would be like. ”
Thomas praised the deal Republicans negotiated with Hobbes and said it puts a big guardrail on taxes by blocking its use for light rail expansion and air quality efforts that Republicans oppose. rice field.
The bill also completely bans the planned light rail extension near the Capitol. The 1.4-mile line has already been funded, but Thoma said he didn’t want lawmakers to have to cross tracks to get to their cars.
“In other words, it’s not coming around the Capitol,” he said.
Instead, it must be at least 40 feet away from the Capitol.
Moving the line away from the Capitol would at least indirectly affect the approximately 7,700 state employees who would have to travel farther to take the light rail.
Parliament was adjourned for a year after the vote.
The deal, which ultimately won Republican support, would cut the amount spent on transportation (bus lines and light rail) to just 37% from what the regional planning agency, known as the Maricopa Government Association, had proposed. Highways, major roads and intersections account for 63% of the total.
Reducing lanes is also prohibited, and there are rules that require projects to demonstrate that they will not increase congestion.
Hobbes has vetoed previous bills that passed only with Republican support, requiring another vote on highway financing and a second vote on public transit. was there. Rep. Thomas and Senate Speaker Warren Petersen said she would sign the new version negotiated with her.
