Business
Tucson Residents Rebuke Controversial Half-Cent Sales Tax for Police Funding
The Safe and Vibrant City proposition, a municipal sales tax initiative in Tucson, is inciting debate within the community. The plan aims to support a variety of services, such as affordable housing, shelters, early childhood education, and workforce development. However, it designates over 65 percent of anticipated revenue to law enforcement and first responders.
Last week, the City Council unanimously approved a motion to place this measure on the ballot for a special election on March 11. If voters endorse the proposition, it would impose an additional half-cent sales tax for transactions within city limits over a decade, potentially raising approximately $800 million for essential services.
The proposed allocation includes 17 percent for affordable housing and shelter, 16.75 percent for neighborhood resilience, 22.75 percent for emergency response enhancements, 12.25 percent for technology investments, and 30.75 percent allocated to first responders.
Currently, Tucson boasts a sales tax rate of 8.7 percent, comprised of an Arizona base rate of 5.6 percent, a 0.5 percent Pima County tax, and a local 2.6 percent tax. The new measure, if passed, would elevate the total rate to 9.2 percent.
A survey conducted by city officials earlier revealed that residents prioritized infrastructure improvement, affordable housing, and job creation over increasing first responder personnel, which ranked sixth out of ten priorities. Expanding mental health services emerged as the top choice among community safety initiatives.
Speaker Abigail Splittstoesser criticized the plan, deeming it a “blatant disregard” for constituents’ opinions. She recounted witnessing officers pass by unhoused individuals in extreme weather, asserting that stable housing significantly reduces emergency service demands.
In response to community feedback, Mayor Regina Romero acknowledged the need for a holistic approach to community safety. She pointed out that a statewide flat income tax change would cost the city $400 million in the coming years, framing the new tax as a vital investment in city resources.
City Manager Tim Thomure emphasized the plan’s focus on addressing immediate emergency needs, suggesting it would mitigate future demands. “We’re more in alignment than we might appear,” he remarked.
Assistant City Manager Liz Morales added that the initiative aims to rehabilitate existing housing units while also creating new affordable options for low-income residents. Tucson has faced a steep housing crisis, with rents rising 40 percent since 2017 against only a 4 percent increase in incomes from 2019 to 2021.
As a result, over half of all renters in Tucson were classified as cost-burdened in 2022, dedicating 30 percent or more of their income to housing. Additionally, homelessness has surged by 52 percent since 2018, with unsheltered cases skyrocketing by an alarming 253 percent in the same timeframe.
Morales noted that while existing plans are promising, there remains a pressing need for additional housing solutions, which this new tax could help finance. In tandem, the initiative aims to tackle the opioid crisis, support early childhood education, and enhance public transit amenities.
The plan allocates a portion of its funds for upgraded emergency response services. However, Morales clarified that not all funds would go toward police forces; a significant share would support hiring 311 and 911 operators, criminal investigators, and unarmed community service officers aimed at reducing police reliance.
Some funds would indeed go to police, with proposals including the addition of an aircraft to the fleet and improvements in body camera technology. Ward 6 Councilmember Karin Uhlich discussed the need for effective tools for law enforcement, emphasizing the importance of appropriate equipment for police officers.
As the community deliberates the merits and implications of the Safe and Vibrant City proposition, the outcome will significantly shape Tucson’s approach to addressing pressing issues such as housing and public safety in the years to come.
