What we're looking at
The Yes on 117 Campaign issued a media release stating that all the contributions that the Truth and Concerns on Prop 117 group has received have been from property-tax consulting firms.
The comment
"All of the (Truth and Concerns on Prop 117) contributions that were finally reported today are from the property-tax consultants."
The forum
A media release issued Oct. 25, 2012, by the Yes on 117 Campaign.
Analysis
If passed, Proposition 117 would modify Arizona's property-tax system to protect homeowners from large year-to-year changes in property valuation. It would do so by capping property-tax increases at 5 percent on assessed values. Supporters say the change would improve the property-tax system by simplifying it and preventing Arizona property values from skyrocketing. Opponents say the proposition would cost the state millions of dollars and potentially shift bigger tax burdens onto certain homeowners and retirees. The Truth and Concerns on Prop 117 group opposes the ballot measure. The group has received $60,000 in campaign contributions, according to an Arizona Secretary of State's Office database. Two named contributors appear on the campaign-finance reports from Oct. 25. The Arizona Association of Property Tax Analysts donated $40,000, and the Sage Tax Group donated $10,000. The Arizona Association of Property Tax Analysts is a professional organization for property-tax consultants. The Sage Tax Group offers property-tax consulting services and is located in Arizona. The Truth and Concerns on Prop 117 group also received $10,000 in contributions from various unnamed sources. Bottom line: Of the $60,000 in contributions that the Truth and Concerns on Prop 117 organization has received, property-tax consultants or groups that represent them donated $50,000. The campaign also received $10,000 from unnamed sources.