Arizona Daily Independent
The Pima County Board of Supervisors voted in favor of a 17 percent property tax increase and the use of taxpayer funds to purchase land for soccer fields. For the first time, in what has seemed an eternity, residents filled the room to speak out against the increase.
Representatives for the Tucson Chamber of Commerce, Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Tucson Electric Power, Arizona Multi-Housing Association and the Tucson Association of Realtors urged the board to vote against the County Administrator’s recommended 2014/2015 budget.
One elderly couple begged the Board to reject the tax increase, and concluded, “You are taxing us out of our home.”
As many residents argued against the increase, members of the audience applauded. Visibly upset by the public’s polite show of opposition to the increase, Chairwoman Sharon Bronson admonished the audience to refrain from clapping, saying that it was a breakdown in “decorum.”
A former military service member and Pima County resident addressed the Board about the increase in taxes and on the matter of decorum. “We left here, joined the military and came back. Between the two of us, we served 4 tours of duty in Iraq. We have been retired three years. Our property taxes have gone up 47 percent in the last four years. Our Trico electric bills have gone up. We bought a greenhouse, you know to try to help the community we love; Tucson. We love this place. But we will be leaving.”
“Other people said here today, Pima County has the most debt in the state,” the resident continued. “The number one employer in Pima County is local state or federal government. Meaning that the pool you are pulling from; from private companies and people is very small. In fiscal year 2012 a total of only 890 private jobs were created in this town. So I understand. I heard someone say here that you’re taking in less money. You know what? Boohoo.”
