Remember your property-tax bill for 2003? Marc Goldstone wants you to not only remember it, but to live with it, essentially, for as long as the property stands.


On Wednesday, the chairman of Arizona Tax Revolt filed an initiative for the November 2008 ballot that would roll back valuations on all properties statewide to 2003 levels. Tax bills are computed on a property's valuation.

If you're a homeowner, you'd better brace yourself. You'll be getting your property-tax bill soon. And it will be higher than last year's. In many cases, much higher.


So high, in fact, that it might prompt you to join Arizona's fledgling tax revolt. At least two initiatives are being proposed that would prohibit local taxing entities from reaping windfalls when property valuations soar, as has happened in Maricopa County the past few years.

There’s been some buzz this summer among low-tax advocates about a pair of ballot initiative drives intended to stop large increases in property taxes. Both proposed amendments to the state constitution are sponsored by a group based in Mohave County called Arizona Tax Revolt.

A group seeking changes in Arizona’s tax system through a ballot initiative has printed 15,000 copies each of its two petitions and distributed most of them to its coordinators, according to initiative organizer Marc Goldstone.


Volunteers of the Arizona Tax Revolt have begun collecting signatures in their neighborhoods, but few are stationed in front of stores because of the heat, Goldstone said.

The large increase many Yuma County residents are seeing on their 2007 property tax statement is the result of a combination of increased home valuation from two years ago and having to pay more for voter-approved bond measures, according to county officials.


County Treasurer Karen Fritz explained that while no new bond measures appeared on a taxpayer's statement this year, and some tax rates actually went down, most homeowners are still having to pay more due to higher property valuations.

Hoping to capitalize on homeowners' angst over rising property-tax bills, another citizens group is targeting the tax with a Proposition 13-style initiative planned for the 2008 state ballot.


Calling itself Prop 13 Arizona, the group filed language Monday for an initiative modeled after its California namesake. The measure would roll back property valuations, for tax purposes, and institute strict limits on future value increases and tax bills.

More than half the 22 school districts that were asking voters for additional money were stunned Tuesday by a possible taxpayer backlash after voters rejected budget overrides to keep class sizes low and pay teacher salaries.


A majority of the school districts were asking for the continuation of budget overrides that have been in place for more than 20 years and were expected to keep the tax rate the same. Overrides are considered for approval by voters every seven years.

Kevin McCarthy, President of the Arizona Tax Research Association, said his rough estimate is that the initiative proposed by Prop 13 Arizona will cut real property taxes by half.


"Obviously, it would have huge impact on our state and local public finance system," he said. McCarthy said he is sympathetic to the initiative's organizers. "I think it would be wise for the state legislature and the governor to also take notice that there is considerable unrest out there with property taxpayers," he said.

Indiana legislators return to the Statehouse on Tuesday to find a way to permanently cut property taxes without strangling essential government services.


If they're successful, Indiana could be the first state to come up with an answer to the problem of rising property taxes and the rising costs facing government -- issues every state is struggling to address.

The issue is expected to take center stage on the General Assembly's Organization Day on Tuesday and during the next legislative session, which starts in early January.

Valley homeowners upset about the fast rise in their property-tax assessments may feel some relief this year as the latest valuation notices hit their mailboxes.


The Maricopa County Assessor's Office says the new round of valuations to be mailed around Feb. 1 will reflect the slump in the housing market. The office, however, would not disclose specifics and emphasized that not all property owners will see a decline in assessed value. Some neighborhoods have held values better through the downturn.