Maricopa City Council members will vote Tuesday on a half-cent sales tax proposal that would generate funds for area road projects, such as widening State Route 347. 

The new tax would be levied Oct. 1 for 20 years, generating about $8 million per year, according to city officials. In anticipation of the vote, InMaricopa polled 1,130 of our readers this week, asking whether they supported the proposal. 

In the poll, more than 6 in 10 readers (63%) believed the council would be justified to impose the tax for SR 347 improvements, despite the highway lying outside the city’s jurisdiction. Gasoline and groceries would be exempt.

Glennwilde resident Emily Castle Wehrle said while it is the state’s responsibility to maintain state highways, and “it’s not fair” to offload the burden onto Maricopa taxpayers, “I want safer roads when driving my family … worth the extra price to make it home safe.” 

Rancho Mirage resident Joshua Ault agreed: “I’m willing to pay a little more to repair things we all use, as long as the money is used as intended.” 

“We all need to do what it takes to make this happen,” said Cobblestone Farms resident Logan Rosing. “Everyone wants to complain about the 347 but won’t do anything to help change it.” 

Kelly Eheler, another Cobblestone resident, highlighted the paranoia associated with the new tax. For some, the proposal conjures sour memories of similar efforts that failed fantastically in the past. For example: A Pinal County roads tax was deemed unconstitutional by the Arizona Supreme Court in 2022 after Maricopa leaders had scoffed at people who questioned its legality, saying they were parroting “misinformation.” 

“The ‘poll’ will not let you vote no,” commented Eheler. “It’s rigged to make it ‘look’ like the citizens want it.” 

Absurdity aside, more than one-third of respondents (35%) found that “No” button and clicked it, showing they opposed the tax increase.  

Many of the opposers shared concerns over the legitimacy of the tax and what portion of the funds generated, if any, would actually go toward SR 347 projects. Others simply believed it was not Maricopans’ obligation, rejecting the proposal on principle. 

“There is no guarantee the funds will go towards SR 347 improvements. For that reason, I’m out,” Rancho Mirage resident Ian Breheney said.  

Hidden Valley resident Lee Morano agreed, adding the “city shouldn’t have to bribe state to fix 347.”  

“No, the city can collect all of the money they want, but the 347 is a state road and the city has no right to get another tax gift from the people,” said Wilbur Griggs.  

Other respondents broached the failed efforts of the past. 

“I don’t want to pay for 10 years and then have Katie Hobbs steal it for Phoenix again,” said Rancho El Dorado resident David Ruckert.  

Responding to Ruckert, Breheney said: “Katie won’t take it, but the Goldwater Institute may. Just like they did with the county funds the voters VOTED FOR. For that reason, I will not support the city tax increase.” 

With all the speculation, just 25 people (2%) were undecided in this week’s poll, less than half the rates of uncertainty compared to a similar poll conducted six months ago. 

Public thoughts on this sales tax increase have barely changed since that November  InMaricopa poll of 1,373 readers, which asked conceptually if taxpayers would support paying into other jurisdictions. 

In that survey, about one-third of readers (35%) said they did not support such a tax, while 60% of readers said they did. Five percent were undecided.