Read Blog for Arizona | Politics from a Liberal Viewpoint for more about Pima County

Pima County Bonds Election: Ally Miller and the ‘Potholes Preservation Committee’ vs. Tucson Metro Chamber of Commerce

September 29, 2015 by AZ BlueMeanie

Several years ago, state Representative Terri Proud, Queen of the Teabaggers, accused Pima County of misusing bond money during a fight over Marana laying claim to a county wastewater treatment plant, and demanded a state audit. The Tea-Publican legislature approved the state audit and — shockers! — Pima County passed with flying colors. The State Auditor General’s Office determined the bonds had been effectively managed and administered without bias. For the full report see: bd-auditor.general.bond.audit.report.pdf.

Terri Proud has since managed to end her political career, Terri Proud, Arizona Official, Fired Over Comment About Women in Combat, but her successor as Queen of the Teabaggers, Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller, has kept her false meme about the use of Pima County Bonds alive.

Miller and her right-wing allies from the Taxpayers Against Pima Bonds political committee are the force behind No on Pima County Bonds. Political committee opposes Pima County bond proposals. No on Pima County Bonds is opposed to any of the bonds passing, including the bonds for street improvements.

Which is odd because as the Tucson Weekly reported, Miller had no trouble directing county bond money into her own neighborhood for street improvements to benefit herself, campaign contributors and a political ally. Pima County Supervisor Ally Miller Has Odd Transportation Priorities. And Miller made a big effin’ deal about potholes in her neighborhood with this photo of her being swallowed up by a pothole. Ally Miller’s 911 Call Makes Fark.Com – Tucson Weekly.

Maybe the Taxpayers Against Pima Bonds committee should rename itself the “Potholes Preservation Committee” instead.

Pima County goes to war with the state legislature over ‘transfer taxes’

August 17, 2015 by AZ BlueMeanie

Last month, the Arizona Supreme Court denied Pima County’s request for a Special Action (expedited court decision) in its challenge to the state of Arizona shifting tax burdens onto counties so that the state legislature could falsely claim that it had “balanced” the state budget. AZ Supreme Court denies special action for Pima County v. Arizona Legislature.

The Court’s action meant that: (1) Pima County has to sue in Superior Court in the regular course of litigation which will take a lot more time, County, Ajo resident sue tate over taxshift, and (2) Pima County taxpayers will have to pay higher taxes this year that the state legislature shifted onto Pima County. Thanks for that Arizona Supreme Court!

Pima County is making an effort to make it abundantly clear to its county residents who is actually responsible for their higher tax rates this year: our lawless Tea-Publican Arizona legislature.

The Arizona Daily Star reports, New county tax statements highlight state funding shifts:

Pima County leaders have long complained that the state forces local governments to pay for state-provided services. Now they plan to make their case to every property owner in the county.

In this year’s tax statements, county officials plan to include a breakdown of how primary property taxes are spent, and how much of local collections support state services.

“Over the years, more and more things have been shifted to the county,” Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry said.

Along with tax statements, the county plans to send a chart that shows as much as one-third of primary property tax collections, or more than $104.4 million this year, will be transferred to the state.

AZ Supreme Court denies special action for Pima County v. Arizona Legislature

July 24, 2015 by AZ BlueMeanie

Back in June I posted that Pima County sues our lawless Tea-Publican Arizona Legislature:

Pima County sued the state Monday, claiming its new budget illegally forces millions of dollars in education spending onto county taxpayers.

The county’s request for special action in Arizona Supreme Court asks justices to undo the shift of more than $45 million in costs back to counties in Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget plan approved by the Legislature in March.

Howard Fischer reports today that the Arizona Supreme Court has denied special action jurisdiction, and this case will have to proceed as routine litigation, which could take months or years before it gets back to the Arizona Supreme Court on appeal. Court decision means higher Pima County taxes:

The Arizona Supreme Court will not block a new state law that will force Pima and Pinal counties to hike taxes on their own residents to make up for a budget-saving maneuver approved by lawmakers and the governor.

Without comment, the justices brushed aside a request by attorneys for Pima County that they immediately take up the question of the legality of the new law. Attorney Joe Kanefield had hoped for a quick — and final — resolution ahead of next month’s deadline for counties to set their property tax rates.

“Obviously, we took a chance,” he said Thursday of going directly to the state’s highest court. “That was the quickest way to resolve it with absolute finality.”

Pima County residents to pay ‘Tea-Publican Transfer Tax’

June 17, 2015 by AZ BlueMeanie

The headline in the Arizona Daily Star this morning reads $1.16B county budget has 20-cent property tax increase:

Supervisor Ramón Valadez said the increased primary rate, which equals 11 cents of the new combined rate, is from state costs the Legislature shifted to the county.

“This budget is not a Pima County budget,” he said. “This is the state of Arizona determining our rate for us.”

He pointed out that as much as one-third of the county’s primary property tax collections goes to support state-provided services.

If Pima County knows exactly how much of this tax increase is due to our Tea-Publican Arizona legislature transferring state obligations to county and local governments so they can falsely claim that they have “balanced” the budget — by transferring state obligations to counties and local governments, while simultaneously ~~sweeping~~ stealing shared tax revenues — and to falsely claim that they have “reduced” taxes — by forcing your county and local governments to raise taxes — then Pima County should have a line on its county tax assessments highlighting this amount as the “Tea-Publican Transfer Tax.” After all, this state has “truth in taxation” laws. Pima County residents should be told that Tea-Publican Arizona legislators are directly responsible for this tax increase.

It’s Christmas in July at PACC

July 17, 2014 by Carolyn Classen

Press release from Pima County Communications:

This is a reminder that this Friday, Saturday and Sunday is the Pima Animal Care Center’s Christmas in July adoption event.

There will be free adoptions for dogs and cats (though dog adoptions will require payment of the $15 license fee).

PACC is transforming the center into a winter wonderland and adopting families can have their picture taken with Santa and their new fury family member for free. There will be food, fun and prizes, too.