By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
On the heels of the Tuesday, Aug. 20, Arizona Court of Appeals ruling on ballot language around Proposition 490 — a .15% sales tax question being presented to Scottsdale voters this November — Scottsdale City Council amended adopted language the appellate court found to be misleading.
The new ballot language passed with a 4 to 3 vote with members of City Council Barry Graham, Kathy Littlefield and Tammy Caputi dissenting. Read the new language for yourself, HERE.
The legal issue now settled hinged upon how the .15% sales tax was coined a ‘reduction’ in Scottsdale sales tax levies already in place and original narrative reported at City Hall and in ballot arguments never explains if nothing is done the sales tax would simply expire as originally intended when presented to voters years ago.
Newly approved language states a vote in the affirmative this November for Prop. 490:
“A ‘YES’ vote shall have the effect of authorizing the City to enact a transaction privilege and use tax rate of 0.15% for 30 years for the sole purpose of: 1) improvements and maintenance for Citywide Parks and Recreational Facilities; 2) maintenance and protection for the McDowell Sonoran Preserve; and 3) increased Police and Fire resources related to Citywide Parks and the Preserve, as determined by City ordinance, to take effect on July 1, 2025, immediately upon the expiration of the current 0.20% tax rate.”
Newly approved language states a dissenting vote November for Prop. 490:
“A ‘NO’ vote shall have the effect of denying the City the authority to enact a new 0.15% transaction privilege and use tax rate, and the current 0.20% transaction privilege and use tax rate will expire at the end of June 30, 2025”
The Goldwater Institute lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of former Scottsdale Mayor Jim Lane and residents Susan Wood and Yvonne Cahill, began earlier this summer with the most recent legal opinion stemming from a July 22 appeal.
In 1995 and in 2004, Scottsdale voters approved a 0.20% tax — the 0.20% preserve tax today in question — to fund land acquisition only and a 0.15% tax to fund land acquisition and improvements in the McDowell Sonoran Preserve. Revenues from the 0.20% preserve tax and the 0.15% land and improvement tax were used to acquire over 30,000 acres of land now knows as the McDowell Sonoran Preserve that entailed constructing 12 trailheads and 235 miles of trails in the preserve.
Scottsdale City Council Candidate Maryanne McAllen talks Prop 490
Scottsdale City Council candidate Maryann McAllen sat down with questions posed by the Digital Free Press to explain his position on Prop 490. This is what she had to say:
*Why do you support or oppose the proposed .15% sales tax ballot measure — now coined Proposition 490 — on the November ballot?
I am in full support of this measure. Over the last 1.5 years, the Protect and Preserve task force of nine residents — two from south Scottsdale, two from mid Scottsdale and two from north Scottsdale — who worked diligently to get input from residents through dozens of public meetings, sought input from citizen commissions and city professionals to gather information on how best to continue the process of how to best preserve our open spaces and protect our cities assets.
Their tireless efforts and dedication to preserve our communities most important assets resulted in this proposition. The residents of Scottsdale love our beautiful amenities and should be allowed to vote to support them.
*How would you ensure that the revenue generated by the .15 sales tax is used effectively and efficiently for the benefit of Scottsdale residents — more acutely the McDowell Sonoran Preserve and greater infrastructure of the community?
The revenue generated will be monitored by the City Council, and should have a citizen structured commission, the same way we structure all of the citizen oversight processes. The citizens should hold their representatives accountable for the use of their tax dollars to see they are used appropriately.
*How would you address concerns from residents who believe the language used to promote the .15 sales tax ballot question is disingenuous?
I believe citizens of Scottsdale are smart and will be able to voice their support on this proposition at the ballot box.
*What specific project or initiative do you think warrants priority for funding first with remits from the tax realized at City Hall?
The prioritization of projects should be made by staff with citizen input. One example would be to replace the fire engine at Station 1 that was moved to a north fire station and never replaced.
*How would you measure the success of the .15 sales tax measure in terms of its impact on Scottsdale’s economy and quality of life?
The success of the prior measure can be seen by our beautiful preserve and the success of 490 will be seen by investing in and maintaining our preserve, open spaces, our southern parks and public safety.
