Tax revolt campaign-
By: Bob Burns, Fountain Hills Times Reporter
October 10, 2007

    Editor:

As residents are currently receiving their tax bills in the mail many are finding a significant hike, but not necessarily because of increased rates or spending.

It’s because their property values skyrocketed a couple of years ago and those increases are just catching up with the tax bills.

A roll back of property valuations is the goal of one of two petitions being circulated by Arizona Tax Revolt, a citizens group proposing two initiatives for the November 2008 ballot.

The effort is being spearheaded by Marc Goldstone of Bullhead City, but Hugh Henry of Fountain Hills has signed on to coordinate the signature gathering effort locally.

Henry acknowledges that property taxes in Arizona are a relative bargain compared to other parts of the country, but he says they want to keep it that way.

“Elsewhere in the country things have really gotten out of hand,” Henry said. “The system gives government a blank check.” The initiative drive is inspired by California’s Proposition 13. The Arizona Tax Revolt organizers need to collect 230,047 signatures to get the proposals on the ballot.

The proposition related to tax levies would rollback property tax levies to the taxing entity’s 2005 levy. It would also expand the existing 2-percent plus growth limit to all taxing entities. There is also an incentive to keep taxes low now by allowing an average of the 2005 to 2008 levies if the 2008 levy increase does not exceed 2 percent plus the tax paid by new growth.

The initiative also has a provision to allow voters to increase the levy limit or approve bonds. It would require a two-thirds majority vote at a November election.

It would also give voters the authority to call for an election to reduce property tax levies.

The proposal to rollback the property valuation reinforces the 1 percent maximum residential tax cap by limiting exceptions to the limitation.

It would roll back property valuations to the 2003 level and use 2003 valuations as a baseline for newer properties. This would eliminate most of the increase in value caused by real estate inflation since 2003, according to the organizers.

Annual increases in taxable value would be limited to 2 percent. The “Uniform Property Valuation” once established follows each parcel, even if sold.

Additional information about the Arizona Tax Revolt can be found on the organization Web site at www.Arizonataxrevolt.org.

Any Fountain Hills residents wanting more information about the proposals or volunteering to help circulate petitions may contact Henry at 816-9251.