Half-cent sales tax on ballot would fund Pinal County roadwork

Reauthorizing a 20-year half-cent sales tax approved by voters in 2017 and canceled by the Arizona Supreme Court will be on the Nov. 8 ballot for residents of Pinal County.

If approved, Proposition 469 would create an excise tax that would provide a projected $1.096 billion in transportation funding for the Pinal Regional Transportation Plan.

It includes $506.9 million for 36 miles of a four-lane North-South Corridor — also known as the Arizona Sonoran Parkway — proposed to be constructed from Apache Junction to I-10 east of Eloy, passing through the city of Coolidge and the town of Florence; and $65.2 million for a 4-mile extension of State Route 24 from Ironwood Drive to the North-South Corridor. Both are part of the Pinal Regional Transportation Authority Board plan for the funds, which can be read at pinalrta.org.

Previous tax struck down

Approved on Nov. 7, 2017, were Proposition 416, which was to create a network of new roads and freeways throughout Pinal County; and Proposition 417, which funded the projects through a half-cent increase in the sales tax.

Proposition 416 was approved 26,399-19,944 and Proposition 417 was approved 23,635-22,734, according to final numbers approved by the Pinal County Board of Supervisors.

Goldwater Institute represented a group of taxpayers and business owners in challenging the tax. The Arizona Supreme Court on March 8, 2022, ruled 4-3 that the taxing structure of the 2017 voter-approved half-cent sales tax was invalid because it improperly exempted transactions over $10,000.

New proposal

The previous tax was up to $10,000 and then tiered to zero; the proposed tax is a straight half-cent sales tax, Chief Civil Deputy County Attorney Chris Keller said at the June 27 board of supervisors meeting, according to the minutes.

The supervisors voted unanimously June 27 on a resolution ordering and calling an election to be held on Nov. 8 on the imposition of a transportation excise tax to fund the county’s regional transportation plan.

Apache Junction Mayor Chip Wilson is in favor of Proposition 469, he said in a statement.

“Proposition 469 benefits Apache Junction and all of Pinal County. Apache Junction, like the rest of Pinal County, is in desperate need of new roads and freeways. The original transportation plan was approved by voters in 2017 along with the sales tax to pay for it. Unfortunately, that tax was invalidated by the Arizona Supreme Court. Proposition 469 simply revises the verbiage that was approved in 2017. It does not increase the tax rate,” he said.

“As mayor of Apache Junction, I am proud to say our city and Pinal County are great places to live and work. However, traffic congestion is going from bad to worse and it is eroding our quality of life. That congestion also is a threat to public safety as traffic jams can slow down first-responders,” Wilson said.

Pinal County Board of Supervisors Chairman Jeff McClure, who represents District 4, said in a statement that the need for quality roads and freeways has never been greater in Pinal County.

“I am asking you to vote yes on Proposition 469 to pay for needed new roads, freeways and traffic infrastructure. The plan will fund the construction of the future Arizona Sonoran Parkway — previously known as the North/South Freeway — to help motorists travel to the heart of Pinal County and much of the northern section of District 4. Plus, it provides an annual allocation for local project funding for the town of Mammoth as well as funds for a right-of-way for the future Interstate 11,” he said.

“This transportation plan and a tax to pay for it were approved by voters in 2017, but special interests outside Pinal County convinced the Arizona Supreme Court to strike down the tax. Proposition 469 would simply fix what was already approved. It’s not a tax hike. Pinal County deserves transportation infrastructure to keep us all moving forward,” McClure said.

Pinal County’s transportation challenges need to be addressed, District 2 Pinal County Supervisor Mike Goodman, who lives in San Tan Valley, said in a statement.

“This was one of the primary reasons I ran for office and is why I support Proposition 469, which will fund new roads and freeways all over Pinal County. This includes the State Route 24 Parkway through San Tan Valley, which would be a new 4-mile long, four-lane east-west parkway between State Route 24 at Ironwood Road to the west and the future alignment of the North-South Parkway to the east. The plan also calls for a four-lane roadway in Casa Grande from Thornton Road to the west, to the future North-South Parkway to the East, located near Coolidge and connecting to Florence, San Tan and Apache Junction/Gold Canyon,” he said.

“New roads and freeways will help boost our economy, reduce response times for police and fire, and provide funds for Dial-A-Ride, that will greatly benefit both seniors and the disabled. Please join me in voting yes on Proposition 469,” Goodman said.