A leading commercial real estate group is easing its opposition to a proposed new arena the Arizona Coyotes want to build in Tempe next to Arizona State University.

NAIOP Arizona has changed its position on the proposed $400 million Coyotes arena from opposed to neutral, said Tim Lawless, president of the arm of the national commercial real estate group.

PHOENIX (KPHO/KTVK) -
The Phoenix City Council recently voted to raise property taxes for the first time in 21 years, in an effort to round out the budget.

But some saw the move as an example of balancing city's books on the backs of small businesses while handing out big breaks for larger companies.

"It's amazing that they can get away with that," said Micky Hermes, the manager of the Auto Shop near downtown Phoenix.

Wayne Rainey thinks his property taxes are too high.

As MonOrchid’s owner, he estimated that property taxes are the second or third largest expense associated with running the art gallery. Elsewhere in downtown, large-scale projects have been given a tax incentive that significantly reduces their property taxes in an effort to promote redevelopment. However, Rainey could not get that incentive because of the costs associated with its approval process.

Biotech seed giant Monsanto and Pima County are negotiating a possible incentive package that would substantially reduce the property tax burden of a planned Monsanto greenhouse in the Avra Valley.

The basis on which the greenhouse parcel’s tax bill is determined would be reduced by two-thirds under the proposal.

Pima County will recoup some legal fees and can rest easy that the state will not appeal a Maricopa County Superior Court judge’s May ruling that freed the county of a nearly $16 million liability.

Those are some of the terms of a settlement recently reached between the state and county, ending a legal battle over how to handle situations in which homeowners are assessed primary property taxes that exceed 1 percent of their property’s value. The settlement was approved by the defendants this week and will be considered by the Board of Supervisors at its regular meeting Monday.

The Phoenix City Council voted 5-4 Friday to raise property taxes.

The move was supported by politically powerful police and fire unions, arts and social service advocates and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

Council members Laura Pastor, Danny Valenzuela, Michael Nowakowski and Thelda Williams also voted for the property tax hike as part of city budget and spending plans.

The Associated Press reports the average homeowner will pay $51 more per year in city property taxes and it’s the first increase to the levy in two decades.

Higher tax bills could soon be in the mailboxes of hundreds of thousands of Phoenix residents as the City Council prepares to vote Friday on a property-tax increase, the city's first possible rate hike in 20 years.

If approved, the increase would cost an average Phoenix homeowner about $51 more per year, or $4.25 per month, according to the city. The tax is based on property valuations from the county.

The Phoenix City Council this week started taking votes to approve a new city budget, but the fate of a proposed secondary property tax increase is less certain.

The levy would raise $37 million and would be used to make debt service payments.

We spoke with Phoenix City Manager Ed Zuercher a couple of weeks ago about that.

Some critics of that idea say the city shouldn’t be raising taxes when it has a budget surplus, while others worry about the impact on homeowners.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey has signed a bill exempting crop dusters and other aircraft used by farms from state sales taxes.

Ducey approved House Bill 2133 without comment Wednesday.

Arizona Tax Research Association President Kevin McCarthy said farm equipment is generally exempted from state sales taxes, but there were concerns the Arizona Department of Revenue was going to reclassify crop dusters as aircraft, which can be subject to those levies.

Jennifer Stielow, AZ I See It 4:16 p.m. MST May 5, 2016

My Turn: Phoenix leaders need to be honest with taxpayers about bonds and properties it pulled off the tax rolls.

City of Phoenix leaders are telling property taxpayers they aren’t sending enough money to City Hall. This is an ironic message from a city that has abused its tax-exempt status to shield scores of major private developments from property taxes.