FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Thursday, February 27, 2025
Senate Republicans Pass Ballot Measure to Help Prevent Local Bureaucrats from Recklessly Raising Burdensome Taxes and Fees
PHOENIX, ARIZONA—A ballot measure prohibiting city councils and county boards from increasing assessments, taxes, and fees on their citizens, without first receiving a supermajority vote of support, is being considered by the House after passing the Senate last week with full Republican support.
Sponsored by Senate President Warren Petersen, SCR 1008 statutorily prohibits the common council of a municipality or the board of supervisors of a county from increasing an assessment, tax, or fee without a two-thirds vote of the governing body. If passed by both chambers of the state legislature, the measure would be placed on the November 2026 General Election ballot for consideration by Arizona voters.
"Local government bureaucrats have consistently found their way around the clear intentions of state voters and their representatives in the Arizona Legislature to raise taxes and fees on our hardworking citizens," said President Petersen. "Arizona is one of the freest and most prosperous states in the union because of our commitment to keep taxes as low as possible, and we must be proactive in closing any loophole that allows otherwise. When faced with a choice, I am confident that Arizona voters will make it as hard as possible for any local government in the state to raise their taxes. I look forward to this bill's continued progress through the state legislature and onto the ballot next fall."
Over the past three decades, Arizona voters have taken action to ensure that tax increases would have to clear a high bar to be enacted. The first time this occurred was in 1992, when Proposition 108 was approved. This measure prevented the Arizona Legislature from raising taxes across the state unless a two-thirds majority of the body voted in favor of that legislation. Additionally, Arizona voters approved Proposition 132 in 2022. This measure prevented any tax increase on the ballot from being enacted without the approval of sixty percent or more of voters. Even with these two policies regulating most occurrences for potential tax increases, local governments around the state have exploited a loophole to raise assessments, taxes, and fees on their constituents with just a simple majority of officials on the municipal or county board. SCR 1008 would close this loophole, making sure that, as was the intention of the successful legislative and ballot initiatives, a supermajority of votes on local government councils or boards are required to raise taxes.
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
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