Municipal and County Government

The Arizona Capitol Times
Thursday, July 20, 2017
Jennifer Stielow
If the county is to ask its voters to approve a sales tax increase, it should not carve out certain transactions for expedience.
The Arizona Republic
Friday, April 21, 2017
Robert Robb
Phoenix has been particularly promiscuous in doling out GLPETs, turning downtown into a property tax free zone. The Arizona Tax Research Association calculates that Phoenix has removed around $1.5 billion in commercial real estate from the property tax rolls.
The Arizona Capitol Times
Friday, March 17, 2017
Kevin McCarthy
Local governments claim that “but for” these tax breaks, new development would not occur. City Hall proudly cuts the ribbon to the new restaurant or hotel while neighbors look on wondering why they pay the full rate. The truth is the “but for” argument is impossible to prove.
The Arizona Republic
Friday, May 6, 2016
Jennifer Stielow
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.
The Arizona Republic
Thursday, August 6, 2015
Darren DaRonco
“When you put fees on citizens and earmark those monies to completely unrelated activities, the only thing that’s happening is they’re side-stepping general taxation because they know they’ve got an idea that’s not going to be supported by the general populace,”
The Arizona Republic
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Kevin McCarthy
"One might expect the city’s 35-year Transit 2050 proposal to plan for at least one major recession. It doesn’t."
KJZZ
Friday, June 19, 2015
Will Stone
[McCarthy] is also critical of counties for siphoning away tax dollars from special taxation districts and using that for another purpose.
The New York Times
Sunday, January 25, 2015
Ken Belson
“The city of Glendale is the poster child for what can go wrong” when a city invests heavily in sports, said Kevin McCarthy.
AZ Central
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Maria Polletta,
Kevin McCarthy said it "should be obvious to anybody" that "over a five-year period of time, the amount that they need for the bonds is in the neighborhood of what they transferred" to cover general operations.
Arizona Journal
Friday, December 20, 2013
Nick Worth
The Arizona Tax Research Association (ATRA) has unveiled the results of its review of fiscal year 2014 adopted county budgets.