City to Deliver Prop. 414 Ballots to Every Tucson Voter This Wednesday

Tucson voters are poised to decide on Proposition 414, with ballots set to be mailed this week ahead of the March 11 election. The Tucson City Clerk’s Office announced that 305,520 ballots will begin arriving in voters’ mailboxes starting Wednesday.

Early voting options are available; voters can cast their ballots in person or drop off completed ones at the City Clerk’s Elections Support Facility located at 800 E. 12th St. Mail-in ballots should ideally be returned by March 5. After this date, voters must drop off their ballots at the Elections Support Facility or one of the six designated voting centers available on Election Day.

Proposition 414, known as the Safe & Vibrant City Initiative, allocates an estimated $800 million toward various public safety and community programs. Key funding areas include:

• $246 million for capital investments for first responders, including new equipment and facilities.
• $182 million to increase staffing for police, firefighters, and emergency operators.
• $140 million earmarked for affordable housing initiatives and support services.
• $134 million designated for community resilience programs aimed at reducing violence and improving local quality of life.
• $98 million for technology enhancements to public safety capabilities.

The proposition has garnered support from Tucson’s Mayor Regina Romero and the City Council, along with endorsements from local police and fire unions. However, some in the business community express concern that raising the sales tax may harm economic conditions. If passed, the sales tax in Tucson will increase to 9.2% from the current 8.7%, which includes various state and local components.

Raising taxes has sparked debate, as local business leaders worry it may affect support for other measures, such as the coming renewal of the Regional Transportation Authority’s half-cent sales tax, set to expire next year. Meanwhile, advocates for the homeless are voicing their discontent, asserting that the proposition prioritizes law enforcement funding over essential services for vulnerable populations.

As ballots are prepared for distribution, signature verification will be conducted by the Pima County Recorder’s Office before the City Clerk’s Office tabulates the results.