Phoenix City Council votes 5-4 to raise property taxes

Phoenix Business Journal
Mike Sunnucks
The Phoenix City Council voted 5-4 Friday to raise property taxes.

The move was supported by politically powerful police and fire unions, arts and social service advocates and Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton.

Council members Laura Pastor, Danny Valenzuela, Michael Nowakowski and Thelda Williams also voted for the property tax hike as part of city budget and spending plans.

The Associated Press reports the average homeowner will pay $51 more per year in city property taxes and it’s the first increase to the levy in two decades.

Councilors Sal DiCiccio, Jim Waring, Kate Gallego and Debra Stark voted against the measure. They said it would hurt small businesses and lower income property owners with higher taxes.

The Arizona Tax Research Association opposed the tax increase contending backers of the proposal set up a false choice between the increases and cuts to police and fire.

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http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2016/07/01/phoenix-city-council…