Officials from the city of Maricopa and Pinal County met with state legislators on Thursday to discuss the city’s 2017 State Legislative Platform.
The purpose of the meeting was not only to get state-level input on the city’s legislative agenda, but also to inform the legislators of what is important to the city of Maricopa.
In attendance were, among others, Mayor Christian Price, councilmembers Nancy Smith, Julia Gusse, Vince Manfredi and Henry Wade (by phone), City Manager Gregory Rose, County Supervisor Anthony Smith, State Sen.Steve Smith and State Rep. Vince Leach.
Pointed topics of conversation included flood control districts, public land procurement, and of course, the problems of State Route 347.
Discussion of the highway’s widening was laced with questions and concerns about economic growth, public safety, the role of the Gila River reservation and taxes that could or could not be levied by the county to pay for the expansion.
Despite knowing it would ultimately be a state and county project, Price encourage Smith and Leach by implying there is a direct correlation between the county’s infrastructure and Gov. Doug Ducey’s plan for economic growth in the state.
Pointing to the tremendous amount of goods that flow north from Mexico, Price argued not only would the expansion of such a thoroughfare positively impact local communities, but its impact on state and national markets would likewise be bountiful.
“We know the missing link between Pima County and Maricopa County is Pinal,” Price said. “Transportation is the missing link to economic development.”
The meeting touched on another topic that has Maricopa and other municipalities on their toes – SB1487.
According to the city’s proposed Legislative Platform, the city will “oppose legislation that imposes personal liability on Council members for actions taken as part of their official duty, and oppose legislation that increases City liability or requires the City to take on additional indemnity.”
Following the recent uproar surrounding the city of Tucson and its decision to destroy confiscated firearms, SB1487 has been drawn upon to threaten Tucson with a funding freeze pending judicial outcomes.
Likewise, last year the city of Maricopa, along with Tucson and other municipalities (most in Pima County) experienced a similar situation when the state decided to withhold funds from Maricopa because of an overtax that surpassed the state mandated 1 percent cap.
As a result, the city had been anticipating an expenditure around $1.5 million from an already lean $30 million budget. Pima County, however, successfully challenged the state’s withholdings, coming out on the winning end of a suit that is resulting in the temporary continuation of funds by the state, regardless of the overtax.
Leach said though the payment reconciled last year’s expenses, it is a one-time deal. After talking with other legislative leaders, he does believe the funding will reoccur, though he acknowledges finding a uniform policy that works for everyone will be difficult.
“One of the problems we have with structuring a 1 percent cap solution is that they’re just a little bit different wherever you take it,” Leach said.
In a measure of solidarity, the city council will vote Jan. 17 on whether to enter into an agreement with the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, Tucson, Phoenix and other cities that will align their political interests to combat any future efforts by the state to renege on the precedent of covering overtaxes.
SB1487 also states if any municipality’s council is alleged to have violated the law they are unable to use municipal funds to cover legal costs. The city is urging Leach and Smith to help change this portion of the law.
For now, the state is also idle on the overtax issue, showing no documented political will to challenge it in the future.
![An image of shredded paper. [Pixabay]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/shredded-paper-168650_1280-218x150.jpg "Shred-A-Thon to take place tomorrow")
![An image of shredded paper. [Pixabay]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/03/shredded-paper-168650_1280-100x70.jpg "Shred-A-Thon to take place tomorrow")
You want Steve Smith, the same Steve Smith who wanted us as taxpayers to pay for Russel Pearce's legal costs while getting realled. The same Steve Smith who wanted to raise money to build 'the wall' again using taxpayer money. The same Steve Smith who still thinks Joe Arpaio and John Kavanagh, the anti immigrant 'super friends' represent all of us? The same Steve Smith who floated bills to force hospitals and schools to illegally report people who he thought weren't here legally. The same Steve Smith who was sheriff 'underpants' campaign manager. The same Steve Smith who in violation of the civil rights act sponsored a bill to forbid state agencies to send out anything in any language but english. The same Steve Smith who voted for prop 122 "state sovereignty" which stated that he would like to secede from the Union. The same Steve Smith who sponsored a bill forcing all students to recite the pledge of allegiance. Maybe he should do at least a minimum amount of homework on all these attention seeking flailings. You see the supreme court has ruled on these things and poor Stevie should have known that. But oh he does love the limelight. But please mayor price and others, don't expect anything from Steve Smith. He only expends energy on things that will bring HIM attention, nothing that will help his constituents.
Now I know that many of the things that I stated above are considered great by a lot of arizonans. Unfortunately, washington, oregon, california and most democratically led states do much better financially and socially than arizona. Most republican led states are 'taker's from the federal gov't. Meaning they take more from the feds than they give in taxes. Most democratically controlled states such as the ones mentioned, are givers.
Can't wait for the finger waggers!!