City of Tucson Special election on Prop. 414

by Carolyn Classen, blogger

https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Departments/Clerks/Elections

“The City of Tucson is asking voters to consider a half-cent sales tax increase for the next 10 years to fund a safer and more vibrant Tucson. If approved by voters, the City’s sales tax rate would increase to 3.1% and generate a projected $800 million over those 10 years.

The revenues that the half-cent sales tax would generate, if approved by voters, over the 10 years would be split into five distinct categories with 65.75% of the funding allocated to public safety investments and 34.25% of the funding allocated to community resiliency investments. 

The proposed Safe & Vibrant City ballot measure invests in five vital areas:

The Safe & Vibrant City: Community Investment Plan describes the allocations of this funding, based on an estimated $80,000,000 annual tax revenue projection, over 10 years. Actual annual tax collections will vary. The allocations shall strictly adhere to the percentages for each of the five categories listed above, based on annual actual revenues collected.”

Info on Prop. 414: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/Government/Office-of-the-City-Manager/Proposition-414

Opposition to 414 from Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce: https://business.tucsonchamber.org/news/Details/chamber-news-the-tucson-metro-chamber-board-of-directors-has-voted-to-oppose-proposition-414-245014

AZ Luminaria story about coalition against Prop. 414: https://azluminaria.org/2025/01/08/sales-tax-hike-proposed-by-tucson-officials-stirring-up-range-of-opposition/

Argument against from City of Tucson’s website: https://www.tucsonaz.gov/files/sharedassets/public/v/1/clerks/documents/elections/pdf-of-argument-against-1.pdf

AZPM The Press Room discussion pro & con: https://playpbs.azpm.org/video/the-press-room-ep-22-kyk6kh/

Early ballots go out on Feb. 12. So vote wisely on or before March 11, 2025.