Latest news with #Proposition414
Yahoo
20-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Proposition 414's blowout loss sends Tucson officials 'back to the drawing board'
Tucson leaders are figuring out how to move forward after final election results show city voters overwhelmingly rejected a ballot measure to raise the city's sales tax to pay for public safety and community investment. At the polls on March 11, Tucson voters voted 2-to-1 against Proposition 414, which would have raised the city's sales tax from 2.6% to 3.1% to give a financial boost to police, firefighters and housing programs, among many others. Of the total 87,081 ballots cast, about 70%, or 60,758 people, voted against the measure. As the deadline to present a balanced budget to the Tucson City Council approaches, city officials are looking at alternatives. 'As a city manager, I developed a plan B and I worked with the mayor a bit on what that could look like,' said City Manager Tim Thomure, who added officials "went into the election feeling confident that we would get a positive result." Thomure is working on next year's budget proposal, which he will present on April 22, and gave the Tucson City Council updates to the budget process at a meeting on Tuesday. Part of the budget process will mean figuring out how to pay for expanding services that would have seen a boost if the proposition had been successful. Expanding services in growing areas will mean adding $15 million to an already-expected deficit of $13 million in the budget. Local officials say the deficit is largely caused by a loss of state-shared revenue. Thomure said he will have to find ways to balance the budget and ring that deficit down to zero. That might include budget cuts and slowing down projects, he said in an interview with The Arizona Republic. He added Tucson will also look for grants to help reduce the deficit. But the city already does, and Thomure noted the options for grants are not 'very robust." Although Thomure did not speculate on a reason for the ballot measure's failure, he said city officials must reflect on what happened. Historically, he said, the city and voters have had a 'strong alignment.' Previous ballot measures that have had a clear benefit for voters passed at the polls, he said, alluding to Proposition 409 in 2012, Proposition 407 in 2018, Proposition 101 in 2017, and Proposition 411 in 2022. 'Did we mishear the citizens about what they wanted? That's possible,' Thomure said. 'Did we reach the point where they're not willing to invest further in the form of a sales tax than what they've been asked? Also, possible. Did we make it too complicated? That's very possible.' While some opposition was critical of any increases in taxes, others opposed the high allocation of funds to public safety. Two-thirds of the funds that would have been raised by Proposition 414 would have gone to police and fire departments. One of the most vocal critics of the measure was the No Prop 414 Coalition. April Putney, a spokesperson for the coalition, faulted the ballot measure for not reflecting the public feedback Tucsonans said they want to be prioritized during public engagement efforts. 'Again and again Tucson has outlined that housing affordability is our top priority, followed by quality city services and programs like education, public transit, mental health care, and park amenities like restrooms,' Putney wrote in an email. She reiterated that 'funding punishment and criminalization' will not solve Tucson's problems, and that citizens want to invest in data-proven solutions, like quality housing and services. City Councilmember Kevin Dahl, a Democrat who supported the measure, said he was surprised it lost by such a large margin. With so many elements in the ballot, he said it's challenging to know if any one issue caused the proposition to fail. Dahl noted a general distrust of government could be a potential cause. 'Tucson is bearing the brunt of concern about government,' Dahl said, noting the mass layoffs, implementation of tariffs, and the shuttering of agencies at the federal level. Dahl said Proposition 414 was a good measure and highlighted the undefined that wants more public safety and supports the fire department and the city's 311 and 911 systems. He also said the measure would have continued using community service officers for police-related calls that don't require a sworn officer with a gun. 'I'm very disappointed, but where we go from here, we go back to the drawing board and sharpen our pencils and work it out so that we live within the budget that will be available to us,' he said. Reach the reporter at The Republic's coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Prop. 414's loss sends Tucson officials 'back to the drawing board'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tucson voters weigh half-cent sales tax hike for public safety, community programs
It's election day in Tucson and voters are set to weigh in on a half-cent sales tax increase that would raise some $800 million over 10 years to fund public safety and community investment. Polls opened a 6 a.m. and are set to close at 7 p.m. in the all-mail special election. As of Monday, roughly 72,000 of the 305,000 ballots had already been returned. Proposition 414, the Safe & Vibrant City ballot measure asked Tucsonans to vote on raising the city's sales tax from 2.6% to 3.1%. City officials tout the measure as an effort to fund critical services following a statewide change in income tax policy that decreased the money the city receives from the state. Of the annual revenue projected to be brought in by the tax: $52 million would go toward police and fire departments $14 million would go to affordable housing programs, shelters, and courts $13.4 million would go to community and justice-related programs Critics argued that with roughly two-thirds of the tax dollars going to public safety instead of housing and community investment, the allocations of tax dollars do not reflect the values of Tucsonans. Supporters said the $800 million over ten years would help pay for critical services like housing, police and fire, which have become more expensive to run. One supporter of the measure is former state Sen. Kristen Engel. The Tucson Democrat lost against U.S Congressman Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., in the 6th congressional district race in November. 'Folks, we need to get off the fence and face the reality that passing Prop. 414 is necessary if we want the level of police, fire and shelter services we expect and which will maintain our reputation as a top destination to live, work, retire and recreate,' Engel posted on X. Critics argued that with roughly two-thirds of the tax dollars going to public safety, instead of housing and community investment, the allocations of tax dollars do not reflect the values of Tucsonans. The Southern Arizona Leadership Council, a coalition of business leaders and executives, opposed the measure. Although the group said it supports properly funding public safety, it underscored the concern that the measure 'perpetuates the structural budget challenges that have left our chartered priorities underfunded," the group said in a press release. Interest groups spent over $300,000 on campaign in support of and against Proposition 414, according to filings with Tucson and the Arizona Secretary of State. Yes on Prop 414: Safe and Vibrant City, a group backing the measure, reported spending $151,351 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 22. Among the large contributions to Yes on Prop 414 was a $10,000 boost from Fletcher McCusker, the CEO of UAVenture Capital and the chair of Rio Nuevo, a special taxing district focused on urban development. Other contributors included city Councilmember Kevin Dahl and Tucson Electric Power executive Cynthia Garcia, among others., The Tucson Metro Chamber PAC which opposed the measure, spent $179,970 on ballot measure expenditures including yard signs, attorney fees, fliers, social media management, and ads, among other expenditures. Some contributors included the Tucson Association of Realtors which contributed $25,000 and the Pima County Automobile Dealers Association which contributed $50,000. Reach the reporter at The Republic's coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Proposition 414: Tucson voters weigh fate of half-cent sales tax hike
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Tucson voters weigh half-cent sale tax hike for public safety, community programs
It's election day in Tucson and voters are set to weigh in on a half-cent sales tax increase that would raise some $800 million over 10 years to fund public safety and community investment. Polls opened a 6 a.m. and are set to close at 7 p.m. in the all-mail special election. As of Monday, roughly 72,000 of the 305,000 ballots had already been returned. Proposition 414, the Safe & Vibrant City ballot measure asked Tucsonans to vote on raising the city's sales tax from 2.6% to 3.1%. City officials tout the measure as an effort to fund critical services following a statewide change in income tax policy that decreased the money the city receives from the state. Of the annual revenue projected to be brought in by the tax: $52 million would go toward police and fire departments $14 million would go to affordable housing programs, shelters, and courts $13.4 million would go to community and justice-related programs Critics argued that with roughly two-thirds of the tax dollars going to public safety instead of housing and community investment, the allocations of tax dollars do not reflect the values of Tucsonans. Supporters said say the $800 million over ten years would help pay for critical services like housing, police and fire, which have become more expensive to run. One supporter of the measure is former state Sen. Kristen Engel. The Tucson Democrat lost against U.S Congressman Juan Ciscomani, R-Ariz., in the 6th congressional district race in November. 'Folks, we need to get off the fence and face the reality that passing Prop. 414 is necessary if we want the level of police, fire and shelter services we expect and which will maintain our reputation as a top destination to live, work, retire and recreate,' Engel posted on X. Critics argued that with roughly two-thirds of the tax dollars going to public safety, instead of housing and community investment, the allocations of tax dollars do not reflect the values of Tucsonans. The Southern Arizona Leadership Council, a coalition of business leaders and executives, opposed the measure. Although the group said it supports properly funding public safety, it underscored the concern that the measure 'perpetuates the structural budget challenges that have left our chartered priorities underfunded," the group said in a press release. Interest groups spent over $300,000 on campaign in support of and against Proposition 414, according to filings with the Tucson and the Arizona Secretary of State. Yes on Prop 414: Safe and Vibrant City, a group backing the measure, reported spending $151,351 from Jan. 1 to Feb. 22. Among the large contributions to Yes on Prop 414 was a $10,000 boost from Fletcher McCusker, the CEO of UAVenture Capital and the chair of Rio Nuevo, a special taxing district focused on urban development. Other contributors included city Councilmember Kevin Dahl and Tucson Electric Power executive Cynthia Garcia, among others. The Tucson Metro Chamber PAC which opposed the measure, spent $179,970 on ballot measure expenditures including yard signs, attorney fees, fliers, social media management, and ads, among other expenditures. Some contributors included the Tucson Association of Realtors which contributed $25,000 and the Pima County Automobile Dealers Association which contributed $50,000. Reach the reporter at The Republic's coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Proposition 414: Tucson voters weigh fate of half-cent sale tax hike
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Tucson Proposition 414: Some balk at proposed tax hike's law enforcement funding, police plane
Some Tucson residents appear wary of a March ballot measure that would create a half-cent sales tax increase for 10 years with the bulk of the funding going toward public safety initiatives. Proposition 414, the Safe & Vibrant City ballot measure, will ask Tucsonans to vote on raising the city's sales tax to 3.1% during an all-mail special election on March 11. Ballots are slated to begin being mailed out Wednesday. The tax is projected to generate $800 million over 10 years. Two-thirds of the funding would be allocated to public safety while the remainder would go toward community investments like public housing and critical programs. If Proposition 414 passes, a citizens' commission will be appointed to oversee the expenditures. City officials say the tax will help fund critical services following a statewide change in income tax policy that decreased the money the city receives from the state. Councilmember Lane Santa Cruz wrote an opinion piece in the Tucson Sentinel about her support for the ballot measure. She said Proposition 414 isn't a 'golden ticket,' but is necessary to expand many of the city's critical programs. She explained Tucson has relied on one-time pandemic relief funds and competitive grants to establish services provided by housing navigators, community service officers, 311 and crisis response teams. Santa Cruz acknowledged opposition to the measure and said she has concerns about the level of funding it would provide for police and fire departments. But she added the percentage breakdown was a 'necessary compromise,' noting how expensive policing and fire management has become. 'This is part of a bigger strategy: we start by securing funding for critical services now, and over time, we flip the script — prioritizing proven alternatives to policing that keep people out of crisis in the first place,' she wrote. However, critics say that more tax revenue should be allocated to housing and city programs, not law enforcement. Members of the public this week told the Tucson council they want the city to work with community groups on a budget to fund 'real' solutions. 'We know that data proves it's not policing and surveillance. It's housing, it's social services, it's mental and health care,' Lee Ziesche said about solving Tucson's housing crisis and homelessness issue. Of the revenue projected to be brought in by the tax, $52 million will go toward police and fire departments annually. That's about two-thirds of the tax revenue. The funding would help efforts to enhance emergency response, support technology investments and pay for capital investments. Some of the key programs the tax increase would support include: Allocating $8 million to add more sworn officers and non-sworn community service officers and detectives. Putting $1.3 million toward expanding the city's Community Safety Awareness and Response Center, a network of public and private cameras and automated license plate readers that are viewable through a video management system. The city said this center improves real-time crime detection and management of limited community safety resources. The funds would hire 10 staff and support technology upgrades over time. Allocating $1.5 million to add more 911 and 311 operators. Providing $7 million for the Tucson Fire Department to build out an additional hazmat team and a ladder company and add more fire department staffing. The proposal would also send millions to first responders for things like body-worn cameras, patrol and non-patrol vehicles and protective equipment. It would fund efforts to modernize some fire and police stations and build new ones in underserved areas. It would also support the purchase of a $16.7 million fixed-wing aircraft for surveillance support and funding to maintain Tucson's police helicopters. A portion of the revenue, 17.5%, would go to helping with Tucson's housing crisis. The proposal would send $14 million to efforts supporting affordable housing and shelters. That includes funds for the city's Housing First program, the development of low-barrier shelters, down payment assistance and more. Funds would also help build affordable workforce housing and improve and upgrade city-owned low-income housing. Additional funding would help homeowners upgrade their dwellings, including HVAC improvements, weatherization, roof repairs, plumbing, electric vehicle charging equipment and more. Another 16.7% of the annual tax revenue would be used for community and justice-related programs. That would allocate $13.4 million a year to develop a justice transition center and a sobering alternative facility, operate a mobile court and upgrade the city court. It would also provide funds to conduct violence reduction interventions, connecting impacted communities with resources needed to interrupt crime networks. It would include another $2.6 million to add 40 more community service officers. Funds will also go toward supporting care coordinators and navigators who work in communities with high rates of violence and gun crimes, delivering education and services. Other funds will go toward adding shade shelters on bus stops, workforce development, early childhood education programs, urban forest maintenance and other community programs. Critics say too much revenue would go toward police and surveillance, and more should be allocated to public housing and services. At a city council work session, Tucson Police Chief Chad Kasmar addressed concerns focused on the surveillance plane. He said the plane would be used to curb criminal driving behavior and prevent high-speed chases. The city currently uses Pima County's assets to address the issue, he said. Kasmar's pitch came during the Tuesday city council work session, which was followed by a regular meeting in which members of the public voiced their concerns about Proposition 414. Ziesche, a community member who spoke at the meeting, said she was concerned the police plane would be used against protesters and vulnerable populations. 'I am incredibly concerned that a large percentage of this sales tax — millions and millions of dollars — will go to increased surveillance and policing through CSAR and for a $16.7 million police plane,' Ziesche said. A grassroots group against the ballot measure called the No on Prop 414 Coalition was also at the meeting. April Putney, a member of the group, said she wants the city to add more funding to "starved" departments like Housing and Community Development. She said Proposition 414 does not "truly" address the city's current needs. "Prop 414 housing and shelter allocations are like bailing out the Titanic with a teacup," Putney said. "They are not enough to offset the added burden this tax will impose on the poor who are already having to choose between groceries and rent due to skyrocketing costs." Reach the reporter at The Republic's coverage of southern Arizona is funded, in part, with a grant from Report for America. Support Arizona news coverage with a tax-deductible donation at This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Tucson Prop. 414: Some balk at law enforcement funding, police plane
