Love paying higher taxes in Phoenix? Then thank the Arizona Legislature
Phoenix soon may be reaching deeper into your pocket.
The City Council is considering a half-cent boost to the city's sales tax.
You can thank the Arizona Legislature for that.
Remember a few years ago when Gov. Doug Ducey and the Legislature cut the income tax, a move that primarily benefited the state's wealthiest residents?
Remember last year when Gov. Katie Hobbs and the Legislature eliminated the residential rental tax?
All this, 'to put more money into people's pockets'?
Turns out, our leaders didn't really 'put more money into people's pockets.' They simply shifted who is reaching into your pants.
So, now Phoenix is staring at an $85 million hole in its budget and pondering a half-cent increase to the city's sales tax, to 2.8%.
But wait, there's more.
The Legislature is considering a plan to snatch away even more of the money that pays for little luxuries like police and fire service and parks and libraries and such.
This, to pay for nicer digs for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
House Bill 2704 would divert $15.7 million in state, county and city tax revenues every year for the next 30 years to pay for upgrades to the county-owned Chase Field.
Of that, Phoenix would lose another $3.5 million to $6.5 million each year, depending upon whose estimate you believe.
It is apparently not enough that we — without a public vote, of course — built the team a place to play. Now, we're expected to rebuild the joint for the team.
A team, by the way, that is now worth $1.43 billion, according to Forbes. That's a 3% jump in value in just one year.
Not bad for a team that Ken Kendrick bought for $238 million in 2004.
Opinion: State help for Chase Field is not a handout
I'd say Kendrick, who is now a billionaire, could pay for his own upgrades, but yeah, I know, SACRILEGE.
The Arizona House passed the bill on a bipartisan vote on Wednesday.
Count the DBacks as thrilled.
'Today was a first step victory in this much-needed public/private partnership … ,' Diamondbacks CEO Derrick Hall said after Wednesday's vote. 'Allowing this proud franchise to remain at Chase Field for continued economic and community impact is in the best interest of the city, county, state, and Major League Baseball.'
So is suggesting that the team pay for its own playground.
Well, it's in the best interest of the city, at least.
Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said the bill represents a $200 million hit — one that'll have 'a real impact on our ability to pay for police and fire services.'
Meanwhile, the City Council will vote March 18 on a plan to increase the sales tax to cover the $85 million hit that they're already enduring.
You can thank the Arizona Legislature for that.
Reach Roberts at laurie.roberts@arizonarepublic.com. Follow her on X (formerly Twitter) at @LaurieRobertsaz, on Threads at @LaurieRobertsaz and on BlueSky at @laurieroberts.bsky.social.
Subscribe to azcentral.com today.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Phoenix can't pay bills with Diamondbacks deal, tax grabs | Opinion
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