From the political notebook:


Mitt Romney recently stepped more bravely into the entitlement-reform minefield. He basically endorsed Congressman Paul Ryan's plan to transform Medicare from a program that pays for the medical bills of seniors to one that gives them financial support to purchase health insurance.

This is not as radical of a reform as depicted by opponents.

An influential tax policy group will seek to put a measure on the ballot to limit growth in property values.

The Arizona Tax Research Association wants taxable property values to grow by no more than 5 percent each year.

Capping the increases in property values for taxing purposes effectively limits the amount that may be assessed on local properties.

The proposed constitutional amendment will undoubtedly have some impact on local governments, which rely on property taxes for revenues. Already, lobbyists for municipal governments are wary of the idea.

After a concerted effort by ATRA, the Senate removed H2060 (municipal fire; emergency services; fee) from the third read calendar shortly before Wednesday’s floor session. The bill is aimed at allowing Paradise Valley to impose a fee on property tax owners in order to fund emergency medical services in the town.

Two citizen groups both claim they are having a tough time getting Mohave County to provide information about its finances.

PHOENIX - A House panel gave its approval Tuesday to letting five border cities spend more money.


HCR 2026 would alter a provision of the state constitution that limits each city's spending based on a formula. The net effect would be a higher expenditure limit for small border-area communities.

One component of the existing spending limit is the community's population. Lori Tapia, a Douglas City Council member, said that does not consider the number of people the city really serves.

August 25, 2004 - On Aug. 16, county supervisors across the state set property tax rates for their constituents. In Pima County, the Board of Supervisors did what they've done for the past five years. They kept the primary tax rate at $4, for a combined county property tax rate of almost $5.50 per $100 of assessed value, a slight dip over last year.


Yet the amount of taxes collected continues to rise steadily.

Call it a finger in the dike, or one small step, but Maricopa County officials took action Wednesday to ward off sticker shock when residents pay their 2006-07 property taxes.


The county Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to impose a 2 percent cap on the levy increase for a pair of special districts governing library and flood-control services. The move comes against the backdrop of residential property valuations that are expected to increase by an average of 43 percent when assessments are released next month.

New sales taxes may be in the future for some Valley residents as cities grasp for ways to widen growth-choked freeways ahead of the schedule approved by voters only 14 months ago.


The extent of desperation is evident in a political coalition built by Goodyear, Avondale, Buckeye and Litchfield Park, where officials are discussing whether to ask voters to approve city sales-tax increases. New taxes would allow the cities to jump-start Interstate 10's expansion to next year instead of having to wait until 2011.

The Pinal County Board of Supervisors approved a tentative $498 million budget this week, topping last year's budget by nearly $100 million.


County officials said the 2007-08 fiscal year budget will reduce the primary property tax rate and will put money toward public safety and transportation.

Jennifer Schuldt of the Arizona Tax Research Association, asked a variety of questions about La Paz County's finances at the annual interview with the Board of Supervisors.


ATRA is a nonprofit, nonpartisan organization which analyzes each Arizona county's financial picture and tax rate.

Schuldt, who serves as vice president of ATRA has come to La Paz several times prior; and informed the supervisors La Paz County was her final county stop, at the Aug. 1 meeting.