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Will Maricopa County voters renew the transportation tax?

Umito November 6, 2024

Voters in one of the nation’s fastest-growing counties are set to decide whether a half-cent sales tax will continue to support local highways, roads and bus lines.

The tax extension, called Proposition 479is part of a long list of questions posed to Maricopa County voters on Election Day, creating one of the longest ballots in years.

This will be one of the last questions on voters’ two-page lists, but it is among the most critical. Local leaders say the money generated from the tax expansion will protect existing infrastructure and prepare the region for future growth. The county plans to grow by 2 million residents and create 900,000 jobs by 2050.

Phoenix-area voters will also determine the fate of the community college system’s budget and elect an assessor and treasurer. alongside other key county positions.

Polling stations close at 7 p.m. Tuesday. A first series of results is expected around 8 p.m. Check back for updates.

2024 election: View Arizona election results | Live Election Day coverage

Will Proposition 479 pass?

A half-cent sales tax has funded Maricopa County’s roads and transportation infrastructure since 1985. But it is set to expire at the end of next year if voters reject Proposition 479.

The tax extension is expected to bring in around $15 billion — about half of Maricopa County’s $28 billion transportation improvement plan. This works out to 1 cent for every two dollars spent. A significant portion would be devoted to road projects, and a little more than a quarter would be intended for public bus transportation.

The tax is sometimes better known by its former name, Proposition 400. It received strong support from voters in previous expansions and passed with 58% of voters during its last renewal in 2004.

But several conservative groups have expressed opposition to this year’s renewal, calling it into question. They favor lower taxes and don’t like light rail.

Only a small portion of tax revenue would be dedicated to light rail. What is intended for the railway system is limited to its maintenance and not to its expansion. Still, the tax could allow cities to expand light rail because more regional funding for roads and bus operations would free up revenue in municipal budgets to expand the existing system.

A bipartisan group of local leaders stressed their support for the taxsaying it will keep roads in good condition, support a mass transit system for a rapidly expanding county and keep traffic congestion manageable as the region grows. They also warned of economic consequences if voters do not pass the renewal.

Cook and Freeman vie for county assessor position

Two candidates who ran unopposed in their respective primaries are now expected to face off for the county assessor position.

It is a little-known profession but of vital importance. The assessor determines property values, which dictate the amount of taxes a property owner pays, and works with other county offices to maintain records and provide assessment information. In Maricopa County, the office is responsible for tracking approximately 1.8 million real and personal properties with a combined value of more than $700 billion.

Incumbent Republican Eddie Cook is running against Democrat Greg Freeman for the position. Cook previously served on the Gilbert City Council and ran a technology company that provides cloud-based data services to other businesses. He also served on the State of Arizona’s Information Technology Licensing Committee, which reviews some of the state’s largest IT projects.

Freeman, commercial real estate manager at MPB Realty, is a Phoenix native and touts a decade of experience in the real estate industry. He has previously worked as a escrow agent, notary, residential letting agent and construction manager. Freeman also served on two zoning committees in Phoenix.

The incumbent should retain his seat as treasurer

Republican John Allen is expected to retain the treasurer position after winning his primary in July.

County treasurers act as county tax collectors and protect the county’s money. They are responsible for disbursing money from the county treasury and prosecuting those who have not paid their county taxes. They receive all county revenues, manage credit accounts, and invest county funds with advice from county supervisors.

They also serve as treasurer for all schools and special districts in their county.

Allen, who beat challenger William Lichtsinn for the GOP nomination, is running unopposed in the general election. He was elected county treasurer in 2020 and previously served in the Arizona Legislature for nearly a decade. He has worked in construction, airline ground operations, sales and as a small business owner.

Voters decide fate of community college budget

The Maricopa County Community College District is facing a spending limit dilemma and is looking to raise its spending limits.

Officials say current restrictions prevent the district from spending more than $451 million without approval from state lawmakers. This number is based on a base limit set in 1980, multiplied by the number of full-time students and adjusted for inflation.

Proposition 486 asks voters to implement a new permanent spending equation. The change would not require additional funds or increase taxes. If approved, the district will be allowed to move forward with a spending limit of $902 million. District leaders say the additional purchasing power will be devoted to expanding licensing programs and workforce training initiatives.

The move could have big implications for the school district, which serves more than 100,000 students each year. If the proposal doesn’t pass, school leaders say they will have to make $100 million in cuts to this year’s budget.

This story will be updated as election results are announced.

Journalists Stacey Barchenger and Taylor Seely contributed to this article.

Sasha Hupka covers county government and election administration for the Arizona Republic. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on X: @SashaHupka. Follow her on Instagram or on Threads: @sashahupkasnaps. Subscribe to its weekly election newsletter, Recount of the Republic.

Helen Rummel covers higher education for the Arizona Republic. Contact her at [email protected]. Follow her on X, formerly Twitter: @helenrummel.