Jeff Kronenfeld / NewsBreak Pinal County, Arizona

(Pinal County, Arizona) From the miles of SR-347 backups to the lack of public transportation options, getting around the largely rural areas of Pinal County is difficult, if not nearly impossible. may be

“The county is growing much faster than we have been able to keep up and we are seeing the effects in the accidents on our roads. [and] Speaking at an event hosted by the Pinal Partnership, Pinal County Sheriff Mark Lamb said:

With the county’s population expected to grow from about 450,000 today to about 800,000 by 2043, traffic could get even worse. Prop. 469 will fund improvements to alleviate these problems, but if you’ve experienced déjà vu as you’re filling out the ballot this year, you’re not alone.

The Pinal Regional Transport Authority (PRTA) proposed in June 2017 a complex regional transport plan and a 0.5 cent excise tax for 20 years. Voters said he approved both measures in November.

Unfortunately for frustrated motorists, first responders, and local politicians, the Goldwater Institute filed a lawsuit in December 2017 to challenge the tax.

In March of this year, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled that the tax violated Arizona law. This is because we taxed transactions under $10,000 at a different tax rate than transactions over $10,000. This is something cities and towns can do, but counties cannot.

At the next election, Proposition 469 will give Pinal County another chance to vote on a 20-year half-cent tax. However, this time the tax rate will not be split between his two tiers, which hopefully avoids the legal issues that undermined previous efforts.

“Although all legal challenges cannot be completely prevented, by following the provisions of the law that allow voters to reconsider the Proposition 469 tax and following voter-approved 2017 transportation plans, A sound legal basis,” Central Arizona government executive director Andrea Robles wrote in an email.

If the proposal is approved, it will fund the expansion of Pinal County’s roads, public transit, and Dial Allied services, similar to previous taxes.

Casa Grande Mayor Craig McFarland said at the same event hosted by the Pinal Partnership.

The majority of the funds, 92%, will be used for road projects. Public transportation components, including construction of dial-a-ride services and park-and-ride locations, will receive $34 million, or 3.1% of the funds raised. The remaining $11 million will go to administrative expenses.

The transportation plan includes 13 named projects, including several road segments over 20 miles in length, and four community local road projects. It unfolds in four he five-year phases.