I’m voting YES on Propositions 487, 488, and 482
Prop 487 (BBB sales tax) pays for many things Flagstaff residents treasure, including: the Flagstaff Urban Trails System, parks/recreation facilities/open space, sports field maintenance, playground equipment, public art such as murals and utility cabinet art wraps, pollinator gardens and landscaping, assistance to local businesses, funding support for sustainable business practices, and grants to local arts/sciences/cultural non-profits (in 2023 this amounted to $582,700). It’s an economical way to pay for many of the amenities we all enjoy. By voting yes, we continue this 2% sales tax paid on hotel/motel/AirBnB rentals, restaurant meals, and alcohol purchases in bars and restaurants for 15 years. NAU’s Economic Policy Institute reports that 68% of this tax is paid by Flagstaff visitors.
Prop 488 (Mountain Line transit) renews and slightly increases the transit tax to allow for expanded and more frequent service. This new funding would allow Mountain Line to replace its fleet with zero-emission buses as the current buses age out of service. Also, clean, convenient bus service helps reduce congestion – particularly through Downtown. It helps our workforce get to their jobs, our elderly population get around without personal vehicles, and NAU and Flagstaff Unified School District students get to school. For so many Flagstaff residents, Mountain Line isn’t just a convenient option, it’s the only option. This new rate is reasonable and responsible. Our tax rate remains below the state average, is comparable to the City of Phoenix’s (2.3%), and is lower than other nearby municipalities including Sedona (3.5%) and Page (3.0%). Food remains exempt from this transportation tax.
Prop 482 adjusts Coconino County’s base expenditure limit so they’re able to spend what they need to on critical infrastructure. Without giving the county this authority, we’re stuck with a limit that was imposed in 1980 and risk the county not being able to spend what they need to on critical infrastructure like flood mitigation, public safety, and road repairs. Voting YES to adjust the base expenditure limit does not increase taxes. Our neighboring counties of Apache and Navajo have already adjusted their base expenditure and Yavapai County is asking their voters to do the same at this election.
