Tucsonans are getting ready to vote again, this time not for political representatives but about our taxes.
Need a reason to pay attention to voting again so soon? This one is important because it would change your everyday expenses and would create funding for city services you might use, including the police and fire departments.
Ballots will be mailed Feb. 12. The special election is Tuesday, March 11 and Proposition 414 is the only thing on the ballot.
Let Arizona Luminaria break it down for you.
What are we voting on?
The proposal is to raise the local sales taxes by a half-cent — to 9.2% total — to help fund public safety and community investment projects, such as affordable housing and preschool programs.
The tax would generate about $80 million per year, according to city estimates, and it would be spent on specific projects outlined by city leaders. (More on this in the next section.)
Prop. 414 would also create an oversight commission to make sure the funds are spent as intended.
The proposal was placed on the ballot by the Tucson City Council. Their stated reason for raising the tax money is to “help offset declining state-shared revenues that are a result of the recent 2.5% flat state income tax.” According to city staff, the city will receive $400 million less in state-shared revenues over the next 10 years.
In other words, one revenue stream is shrinking so the city wants voters to approve another stream.
Mayor Regina Romero has said that if Prop. 414 fails the city could be facing budget cuts in the housing department and other community programs as it maintains funding for police and other responsibilities required by the city charter.
Police funding 101: A Tucson voter’s guide
Police funding is central to a ballot proposition to increase Tucson’s sales tax. But understanding the police budget is especially difficult, with funding coming from… Keep reading
Where would my tax dollars go?
There are about 50 specific projects city leaders want to spend the money on. You can browse the full list here.
Almost a third of the money would go into capital investments for first responders, including equipment, an airplane, vehicles and remodels for some buildings.
Here’s a quick breakdown:
- Affordable housing and shelter investments, which include money to build affordable housing, preserve existing city-owned housing stock and fund low-barrier shelters.
- Neighborhood and community resilience investments, which include workforce development programs, community clean-up dollars and funding for a program to reduce gun violence.
- Enhanced emergency response, which includes increased staffing for the Tucson Fire Department and Tucson Police Department.
- Police technology investments that include body-worn cameras, updates to the dispatch system, and a police department airplane.
- Capital investments for first responders, including ballistic vests, police patrol vehicles, fire trucks, and upgrades to the police and fire training academy.
When and where do we vote?
It’s a vote-by-mail election. Only people who live within Tucson city limits can vote in this special election. Check your voter registration.
Dates to know:
Feb. 12 — Ballots will be mailed. If you’re an active voter, you’ll automatically receive a ballot by mail.
March 5 — Deadline to mail your ballot to make sure it’s received in time to be counted.
March 11 — Election Day. Voting locations will be open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.
What if I didn’t receive a ballot, or I lost it or I didn’t mail it back by the deadline? You can request a replacement ballot at a voting location on Election Day, March 11. ID is required.
The voting locations are:
- Department of Housing and Community Development, 310 N. Commerce Park Loop
- Morris K. Udall Regional Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road
- Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center, 2160 N. Sixth Ave.
- William Clements Recreation Center, 8155 E. Poinciana Drive
- El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Road
- Parks and Recreation Administration, 900 S. Randolph Way
- Tucson City Clerk Elections Center, 800 E. 12th St.
Additional locations for ballot drop-off only:
- Pima County Recorder, 240 N. Stone Ave., 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through March 10 and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, March 11
- Pima County Recorder, 6550 S. Country Club Road, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays through March 10 and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, March 11
- Pima County Recorder, 6920 E. Broadway, 8 a.m. to noon and 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays and 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day, March 11
Who supports it?
Major funding for the Yes on Prop. 414 campaign came from the Tucson Police Officers Association and the Tucson Fire Fighters Association. “Prop 414 is a bold step toward ensuring our city has the resources to address critical issues like housing affordability, community safety, and access to vital services, while also laying the groundwork for a more comprehensive system of care over the next decade,” city council member Lane Santa Cruz says in a statement on the campaign website.
Other supporters include:
- Mayor Regina Romero and members of the Tucson City Council
- Groups that represent police professionals, including the Tucson Police Officers Association, the Tucson Police Command Association, and the Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Arizona
- Groups that represent fire fighters and other first responders, including the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona and the Tucson Fire Fighters Association
- Some social service agencies, including Old Pueblo Community Services and I Am You 360
Who is against it?
The Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce, which launched a No on 414 campaign website, with funding from the chamber’s political action committee, the Tucson Association of Realtors and the Arizona Multi Housing Association. The group says 414 would make sales taxes higher in Tucson than in other Arizona cities, which would be bad for consumers and businesses.
Tucson residents currently pay an 8.7% sales tax — including state, county and city sales taxes. The half-cent increase would raise the total to 9.2%. Groceries are exempt from local sales taxes.
Additionally, a coalition of mutual aid groups, including Community Care Tucson, Amphi Liberation Mutual Aid, Gator-Aid Tucson, and the Tucson Tenants Union also launched an opposition campaign. The group says the mix of projects included in the 414 proposal is not aligned with community priorities and places too much emphasis on policing and surveillance technology.
Other opponents include:
- Tucson Crime Free Coalition
- Pima County Republican Party
- Green Party of Pima County
- The Tucson branch of the Democratic Socialists of America
What about previous city sales taxes we’ve voted on?
In 2022, Tucson voters approved Prop. 411, which extended an existing sales tax (not a tax increase) to help pay for street repair and street safety projects. It passed with 73% yes votes.
In 2017, Tucson voters approved Prop. 101, a half-cent sales tax to pay for public safety and road improvements. It expired in 2022 and was replaced by Prop 411.
Also in 2017, Tucson voters approved Prop. 203, which raised sales taxes by one-tenth of 1% to fund the Reid Park Zoo. It passed with just over 50% yes votes. And they rejected Prop. 204, a sales tax measure to fund early childhood education. It failed with 65% voting no.
Republish our articles for free, online or in print.
