ARIZONA DAILY STAR: Tues., Nov. 6, 2007
Group wants Prop. 13-style property tax rollback
PHOENIX - Government doesn't like it, but anti tax crusaders say they are pushing on with a ballot initiative aimed at rolling back Arizona property taxes. The group pushing the Proposition 13-style initiative filed language Monday in an attempt to get it on the 2008 ballot.
If it makes it to the ballot, and if it is approved by voters, the measure would roll back property valuations, for tax purposes, and institute strict limits on future value increases and tax bills.
"All we're really doing is protecting property owners from tax increases, Prop 13 Arizona Chairwoman Lynne Weaver said. "We're just putting property owners and government on equal footing."
The ballot measure is modeled after the Proposition 13 that California voters approved in 1978. It is the third initiative filed this year aimed at lowering property taxes. The measure has already created angst among various local governments, where property-tax revenue accounts for roughly one-third of the general fund.
"Lowering the property-tax limits as much as this does might have a big impact," said Chris Bradley, deputy budget director for Maricopa County.
Weaver says the idea has broad nonpartisan support.
"I don't know of anyone who's against it, except those in government," she said. "We have backers from all parties."