By Phil Riske, managing editor
The Casa Grande City Council Monday night unanimously approved the municipal incorporation of neighboring Arizona City.
Despite a projected loss of $252,000 in various taxes, the council voted 6-0 in favor of the incorporation, which has been an issue in the area for 25 years. The incorporation was approved in 1981, but later it was disqualified for lack of a minimum population for incorporation. The city now has an estimated 10,000 resident.
The council was told the loss of tax revenue could be made up for by certain county funds and the benefit derived from a cooperative relationship with Arizona City and including it in the “city plex” of the area.
Councilman Dick Powell said Arizona City should have a right to have its own government.
Advocates of the incorporation say it would give the city more control over the area’s future because local, not county leaders, would make better financial investment decisions for the residents.
The incorporation also would attract businesses that will not locate in an unincorporated area, advocates say, adding it would enable the city to apply for grants to upgrade infrastructure.
Because its boundaries lie within six miles of the cities of Eloy and Casa Grande, an incorporation, according to state law, can only proceed if the committee seeking incorporation obtains a resolution of approval from both Casa Grande and Eloy.
Casa Grande Mayor Bob Jackson said he was told Eloy, which is expected to take up the incorporation request next week, “has some heartburn” over it.
