Construction of new homes in the city of Maricopa continued last month at the tepid pace established last year.
The city issued seven permits for the construction of single-family homes in January, the lowest number of permits issued in that month in the city’s history.
The number is in line with the 7.8 permits per month the city is averaging so far this fiscal year, which runs July 1 to June 30.
The construction of homes brings money to the city in the form of permit fees and sales tax on newly built homes, and Maricopa bases its budget partially on the number of building permits it expects to issue.
The city initially budgeted for an average of 33 permits a month in the current fiscal year. That number was adjusted down to 10 permits a month in December and the council slashed nearly $1 million from the city’s budget to reflect the change.
Since the adjustment was made the city has yet to issue 10 permits in a single month.
![City Manager Ben Bitter speaks during a Chamber of Commerce event at Global Water Resources on April 11, 2024. Bitter discussed the current state of economic development in Maricopa, as well as hinting at lowering property tax rates again. [Monica D. Spencer]](https://www.inmaricopa.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/spencer-041124-ben-bitter-chamber-property-taxes-web-218x150.jpg "City gave new manager big low-interest home loan")
