As an unincorporated area, Santan Valley currently relies solely on the county government and administrative services. However, it may be incorporated in 2024, so residents may have a chance to decide whether the community should become a city. Incorporation may bring certain benefits, but it is important to consider potential drawbacks such as increased bureaucracy and increased taxes.
A new effort to incorporate Santan Valley is currently underway and is led by a different group than previous efforts. While the possibility of voting in 2024 has been discussed, it is important to clarify that it is not guaranteed. The renewed interest in incorporation and the emergence of this new group is why the topic is resurfacing for community discussion.
Tyler Hudgins, who recently moved to Santan Valley in August 2021, is the leader of this new group advocating for the inclusion of the area. Hudgins, who has lived in Gilbert for more than 12 years, ran unsuccessfully for Gilbert City Council in 2020. He used the opportunity to speak at a public call at the Pinal County Board of Supervisors meeting on April 23, 2023 to express his support for the incorporation effort and draw attention to the newly formed group. Collected.
A Series of Unsuccessful Incorporation Attempts
Santan Valley’s history includes several unsuccessful attempts at incorporation, with none of the bids reaching voters’ votes. Our latest attempt in 2018 faced some major hurdles.
- The town of Queen Creek filed a lawsuit to prevent the issue from being put on the ballot, primarily because it wanted to be able to annex certain areas of Santan Valley for future income growth.
- Encantera’s developers withheld permission for the community to become part of the planned city, citing commitments to the town of Queen Creek.
- The group that led the signature-gathering process was unable to gather enough signatures to be eligible to vote, and the effort eventually stalled.
At the time, state law required founding organizers to notify developers and homeowners associations separately, and any entity that did not receive notice could be excluded from the proposed boundaries, potentially hampering efforts. had a nature.
That rule changed last year and now requires promoters to put their initiatives on the agenda of the county board of supervisors meeting and notify all parties six months in advance. Companies can still choose to opt out, but they will no longer be able to stop the incorporation process unilaterally.
Santan Valley’s previous incorporation bids have also met opposition from neighboring cities. Prior to 2017, state law allowed existing cities and towns within six miles of an incorporation proposal to block the effort, a provision known as the “six mile rule.” Thanks to the tenacious advocacy of Santan Valley resident Tisha Castillo, the law was amended in 2017. Castillo spent years fighting to change the law to ensure communities like Santa Valley had the same rights as other communities in Arizona. Since this provision has been removed, the decision-making power lies with the community itself. On the other hand, surrounding municipalities have incorporated portions of Santan Valley into their own boundaries, most aggressively annexing the town of Queen Creek.
Weighing the potential impact of incorporation
While the prospect of incorporation may have some advantages, it is important for Santan Valley residents to consider potential disadvantages. Incorporation means establishing an additional layer of government, with the potential for higher taxes compared to the current unincorporated state.
Debunking the myth that fire services are free when incorporated
A common misconception about incorporation is that it automatically grants residents access to free fire services, thereby removing the need for existing voluntary memberships offered by local fire departments. However, in Arizona, incorporated cities are not obligated to provide fire services. If a newly incorporated city chooses to provide these services, residents will either continue the current voluntary model or be held responsible for the costs through additional taxes that all residents are required to pay. Become. For example, the town of Queen Creek, incorporated in 1989, did not establish its own fire department until 2008. Between 1989 and 2008, Queen Creek maintained a subscription service with Rural Metro, despite being an incorporated town.
As the 2024 vote draws near, Santan Valley residents will need to carefully consider whether or not to incorporate, given the community’s past experiences and potential impacts of urbanization.
