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Municipal and County Government

Glendale OK with sports debt, but risks run deep
The Arizona Republic
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
Rebekah L. Sanders
One thing is clear: the picture today would look worse if last summer's bankruptcy had sent the Coyotes to Canada. Glendale could have lost out on $12 million in back fees owed by the team and eventually paid by the National Hockey League if the Coyotes had moved. The city's debt payments on Jobing.com Arena wouldn't have stopped. Service cuts to residents might have been deeper; city layoffs could have escalated.
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RDS lauded by many, sued by some
Tulsa World
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Randy Krehbiel
The company that Mayor Dewey Bartlett wants to hire to collect Tulsa's city sales tax seems to receive generally good marks in at least two states where it does business, although some taxpayers complain that it is too aggressive and others don't like the idea of a private company having access to businesses' financial records.
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Taxes: Getting your money's worth
Edythe Jensen
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Edythe Jensen
Everybody knows there's no avoiding taxes But few people know - or seem to care - what happens to the taxes collected by their home cities so long as needed services are provided. Even fewer can honestly say if they are getting good value for the money they hand over every month in property taxes, service fees and the "invisible" tax contributions they make every time they go shopping.
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Death of a thousand cuts
Tucson Weekly
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Jim Nintzel and Mari Herreras
It was another rough week for supporters of the Public Safety First Initiative, aka Proposition 200, which would require the city of Tucson to hire at least 333 cops and 70 firefighters over the next five years. First, in a long-rumored power play, Tucson Electric Power formally announced opposition to Prop 200.
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On Prop. 200, resist ballot-box budgeting
Arizona Daily Star
Monday, October 26, 2009
Kevin McCarthy
Taxpayers in Tucson, courtesy of Proposition 200, are being asked to amend the city Charter to strip the current and future City Councils of their authority to establish budgets for the police and fire departments. The Arizona Tax Research Association strongly urges Tucson taxpayers to reject this effort at ballot-box budgeting.
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Maricopa County rejects most tax appeals
Arizona Capitol Times
Friday, October 2, 2009
Christian Palmer
Within minutes of hearing discussions of residential private golf course memberships, hilltop views and the actual market value of luxury homes in north Scottsdale, a hearing officer with the Arizona State Board of Equalization reached a conclusion - the value of Dennis Grose’s home had been overestimated by the office of Maricopa County Assessor Keith Russell by almost $250,000 dollars.
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Bill capping secondary property taxes advances in Senate
Arizona Capitol Times
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Luige del Puerto
A move to cap secondary property taxes is underway at the Arizona Capitol. Under S1421, the existing limitations on annual increases in primary property taxes would apply to special taxing districts throughout the state. The Senate Finance Committee approved the bill by a vote of 5-1 on June 10. Its next stop is the Senate floor for a debate and a vote.
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Plan would shift bond, override cost onto homeowners
The Arizona Daily Star
Friday, June 12, 2009
Rhonda Bodfield
Homeowners could be on the hook for a larger portion of taxes to pay for city, county and school district bonds and overrides if the governor goes along with a provision in the budget just approved by the Legislature. For any election after June 30, the bill essentially cuts the ratio at which businesses are assessed to pay off those voter-approved obligations, from 22 percent to 10 percent — the same ratio at which homes are now evaluated.
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GOP budget proposal raises taxes on homeowners
The Arizona Guardian
Monday, June 8, 2009
Dennis Welch
A late addition to budget bills rushed through the Legislature last week would ease the tax burden on businesses by shifting it on to homeowners. The proposal drew no discussion during committees or floor debates and some lawmakers are just now realizing the full impact of the measure. Under the provision, secondary property tax rates for businesses would be cut by more than half for any bonds or overrides passed after June 30.
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House GOP leaders' budget plan would go easier on cities, schools
The Tucson Citizen
Monday, May 4, 2009
The Associated Press
PHOENIX - Arizona House Republican leaders sharpened their budget-balancing proposal Monday, saying provisions to get hundreds of millions of dollars from municipalities and school districts now include sweeteners and, for the cities and towns, would be voluntary. The Republican leaders formally introduced 10 bills to implement their version of the proposal - Senate GOP leaders have a similar one - and scheduled a Tuesday meeting for the House Appropriations Committee to act on it.
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