Challenger accuses county officials of spin doctoring

Recently, Pinal County officials have announced a planned lower county tax rate to help Pinal County taxpayers.

It is time for this entire group of “Spifoons” to go! This word was derived from spin and buffoons, as I do not generally have a high opinion of Pinal County officials and they are really spinning this tax rate issue.

As you all may be aware, the 2008 tax bills will be based on the 2007 values which were established in 2006.

As previously stated, that Arizona property tax system is very convoluted. The Pinal County Tax Rate is multiplied against the Assessed LTV (Limited Tax Value).

Very few Pinal County homeowners will experience any reductions in tax bills. In fact the 2009 tax bills will see a large increase over 2008 based on the values already established by the current assessor.

A friend of mine, Bill Bridwell from Casa Grande, has recently observed:

“The lowest tax rates in Pinal County since 1980 something occurred as a result of state law not county prudence. The 3.44 tax rate is the highest amount permitted by law.”

The County once again created a budget by taking the tax rate times the tax base then spending all the money. The concepts of Management / Finance / Accounting 101. Zero based budgeting techniques are lost upon our Pinal County elected and appointed officials.

They continue to take all they can from us and use it for their pet projects and purposes. Snider and others are attempting to use the lowered tax rate in their campaigns as evidence that they are working for the benefit of Pinal County’s citizens.

The following is a quote from the current assessor in an article published as to why he should be re-elected and demonstrates a complete non-understanding of exactly where Pinal County Government funding comes from.

“Pinal County was a small rural county when I first took office,” Larkin said. “I am proud of the advances in technology we have been able to put in place without using Pinal County tax dollars.”

Perhaps he can tell us whose money was utilized if it was not from the Pinal County taxpayers.

While the primary tax rate for Pinal County could drop to the lowest level in 30 years under a tentative budget approved by county officials, it is actually mandated to be lowered by state law and not the idea of the Pinal County officials.

But state tax experts say Pinal County had to reduce its tax rate in accordance with state law. Pinal County’s tax levy for fiscal 2007-08 was estimated at $76.7 million. To set the new tax rate, county officials are allowed to add 2 percent to that figure plus the value of new-home construction. The rate of $3.44 per $100 in assessed value is the maximum the county can assess by law, said Jennifer Schuldt, vice president of the Arizona Tax Research Association.

“They can’t go above that,” she said. “They are required to drop it. Some of the counties try to take credit for it when they are required to do so.”

The property taxes in Pinal County on a 1983 mobile home in a rented community park increased from $101 to $138 between 2006 and 2007 (tax value years).

Not much?

Well calculate it again. It is a 38 percent increase and it has happened to a person living in an older mobile home based on what their living budget will allow. 38 percent increase. It is time for Ron “Low-Tax” Reinagel to be elected Pinal County Assessor. More than 1 million home foreclosures are forecast for this year.

We must no longer allow our future to be held hostage by our past. The current assessor’s errors must stop. We can make this a user-friendly office.

By electing Ron “Low-Tax” Reinagel Pinal County Assessor in 2008

Photo courtesy of Ron Reinagel