PHOENIX – On July 31, the Arizona State Legislature passed a bill to allow Maricopa County voters to decide whether to extend a half-cent sales tax for transportation. The bill, however, made its way to Governor Katie Hobbs’ desk with a price to pay, as State Senate Republicans only pushed it through with a repeal of the rental tax. Here’s what you should know about the proposal. So, what’s in the bill? Maricopa Co. voters to decide on transport funding Arizona state lawmakers unveiled a new deal on July 31 that would allow voters in the state’s largest county to vote on a bill that would extend the decades-long half-cent sales tax that provides funding for various transportation projects in the area. FOX 10’s Marissa Sarbak reports. According to a statement released by State Senate Republicans, the bill, known as SB1102, provides for an extension of a ballot initiative known as Proposition 400. SB1102, according to the Arizona State Legislature’s website, was initially a bill that would have given ADOT $4.5 million to improve an interchange at State Route 303 and US 60. The bill, however, was subsequently amended in what is known as “strike-everything” amendment. According to a legislative analysis of the newly-amended bill, the Board of Directors in Maricopa County would be directed to call a county-wide election, where voters will be asked on whether or not to continue with half-cent tax that was in Proposition 400. According to the statement, the proposal was announced after “several weeks of renewed good-faith negotiations between the Senate, House and Governor’s Office.” What’s Proposition 400? Two freeways intersect in the Phoenix area. According to ADOT’s web …
