By Phil Riske, managing editor
The Eloy City Council Monday blocked the municipal incorporation of neighboring Arizona City on a vote of 6-0. Councilmember Joe Nagy was not in attendance.
The action counters the unanimous approval a week ago by the Casa Grande City Council. By law, both cities have to approve the incorporation.
Incorporation, which has been an issue in the area for 25 years, was approved in 1981, but later rescinded for lack of a minimum population for incorporated cities.
Both Casa Grande and Eloy would face loss of certain tax revenues — more than $200,000 in Casa Grande’s case — but Casa Grande said it would benefit at least equally from other factors resulting from the incorporation, including certain county revenue and advantages of having a cooperative relationship with Arizona City in an “city plex” area.
Advocates of the incorporation also said it would give the city more control over the area’s future because local, not county leaders, would make better financial investment decisions.
Casa Grande Mayor Bob Jackson had said Eloy had “some heartburn” over the incorporation.
