Proposition 479
Proposition #479
Proposal Submitted by Yavapai County
Permanent Base Adjustment Increase of $7,900,000
Official Title
A resolution proposing a permanent adjustment increasing the state-imposed base expenditure limitation for Yavapai County, Arizona.
Pursuant to the Arizona State Constitution, and Yavapai County Board of Supervisors Resolution No. 2129, the Board seeks voter approval to permanently adjust the expenditure base of the County as determined by the Economic Estimates Commission. The County seeks an adjustment of $7,900,000.
A “YES” vote shall have the effect of allowing the County to adjust its base expenditure limit.
A “NO” vote shall have the effect of not allowing the County to adjust its base expenditure limit.
YES _____
NO _____
Proposition #479 Questions and Answers
What is the County’s Expenditure Limitation?
The expenditure limitation is the maximum amount that the County can spend each year. This limit increases each year by an estimate of the growth in the County’s population and inflation and is calculated annually by the Arizona Economic Estimates Commission.
Will Proposition 479 increase my property taxes?
Proposition 479 will not raise property taxes or any other county taxes.
How will the County’s Expenditure Limitation change if Proposition 479 is approved by voters?
If Proposition 479 is approved, the County’s base expenditure limitation, would be increased by $7,900,000, and the Arizona Economic Estimates Commission would use the new base expenditure limitation to calculate all future County expenditure limitations. The increased limitation would begin in fiscal year 2025-2026.
Why is the County asking to adjust the Expenditure Limitation?
The County currently collects monies from federal payments, state payments and existing county taxes and fees that collectively are more than the current expenditure limitation.
Many of these revenues have been growing, over recent years, faster than the growth in the expenditure limitation. For example, state collected sales taxes that are shared with the County grew by 93 percent from fiscal year 2015 to fiscal year 2023, but the County’s expenditure limitation only grew by 32.5 percent during those years. That means that some of the monies received from the state were not spent. The same is true for some other types of monies the County receives.
The County also has expenses for many things that did not exist in 1980, including advanced public safety and search and rescue communications equipment, public facing websites that offer online services, and the equipment and personnel necessary to meet numerous other legal requirements, in addition to ongoing expenses related to public health, safety and welfare, roads and other infrastructure.
When was the last time the County asked voters to increase the Expenditure Limitation?
The County has never asked voters to increase the expenditure limitation.
How is the County’s Expenditure Limitation determined?
The County’s expenditure limitation is based on the County’s base expenditure limitation that is the County’s actual spending of local revenues in fiscal year 1979 – 1980. The Economic Estimates Commission, with the assistance of the Arizona Department of Revenue, calculates the expenditure limitation annually based upon an estimate of the growth in the County’s population and inflation.
How will the County’s Base Expenditure Limitation change if Proposition 479 is not approved?
Yavapai County’s base expenditure limitation will remain equal to its actual spending in fiscal year 1979–1980, which was $11,175,381.
What is the County’s Base Expenditure Limitation?
The County’s base expenditure limitation is the original amount used, in 1980, as the starting point for all subsequent expenditure limitations for the County. The County’s base expenditure limitation is the amount of “actual county spending of local revenues in fiscal year 1979 – 1980” – $11,175,381.
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ARGUMENTS FOR PROPOSITION 479
Arguments represent the opinion of the authors.
I am writing to express my strong support for the Expenditure Limitation proposal currently under consideration. As a former Yavapai County Supervisor, I have had the privilege of serving our community and understanding the critical importance of fiscal responsibility and sustainable budgeting. The Expenditure Limitation proposal is a necessary step to ensure that our county can continue to provide essential services without compromising our financial stability. Over the years, we have seen significant growth in our population and corresponding demands on public services. The current expenditure limits, based on outdated fiscal benchmarks, no longer reflect the realities of our county’s needs.
By adjusting the expenditure limits, we can better align our budget with the actual costs of maintaining and improving public infrastructure, healthcare, education, and safety services. This proposal is not about increasing taxes but about making sure that the funds we already collect are used efficiently and effectively to benefit our residents.
I have always been a proponent of transparent and accountable governance. This proposal includes measures to ensure that any adjustments to the expenditure limits are made with full public oversight and input. It is designed to be a flexible tool that can adapt to the changing needs of our community while maintaining strict fiscal discipline.
I urge all stakeholders to support this proposal. It is a balanced and prudent approach to managing our county’s finances, ensuring that we can continue to provide high-quality services to our residents now and in the future.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely, Randy Garrison,
Former Yavapai County Supervisor Cottonwood, Arizona
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It is important to increase the expenditure limit for Yavapai County for several reasons: Economic Stimulus: Higher government spending can stimulate economic growth, especially if a recession takes place or YC has a period of slow growth. By increasing expenditure, the government can create jobs, boost consumer spending, and encourage investment.
Infrastructure Development: Increased spending allows for investment in infrastructure such as roads. Road improvements will not only improve quality of life but also enhance productivity and our economic efficiency. Social Programs: Higher expenditure limits will enable Yavapai County to fund programs that will support the well-being of citizens, reduce inequality, and promote social stability.
Long-term Investments: Governments can invest in long-term projects like research and development, green energy, and technology, which can lead to sustainable economic growth and innovation. Public Services: Enhanced expenditure limits ensure that essential public services like policing, and public health are adequately funded, maintaining public safety and welfare.
Overall, increasing government expenditure limits can be a powerful tool for promoting economic stability, while ensuring the provision of essential services and addressing immediate and long-term challenges. A YES vote is important.
Sandy Griffis
Prescott, Arizona
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I am writing to support a YES vote for Proposition 479 on the November 5th General ballot. This would increase the County’s base limitation to $7,900,000; the Arizona Economic Estimates Commission would use the new “base expenditure limitation” to calculate all future limitations beginning fiscal year 2025-2026. Currently the limitation is based on 1980 figures.
The County has expenses for many things that did not exist in 1980: advanced public safety and search and rescue communications equipment, public facing websites that offer online services, and the equipment and personnel necessary to meet numerous other legal requirements, in addition to ongoing expenses related to public health, safety and welfare, roads and other infrastructure.
A yes vote allows the County to spend the money it has already collected from federal payments, state payments and existing county taxes and fees. Currently, they are collectively more than the current expenditure limitation. Hence some of the monies received from these sources were not spent.
The County has never asked the voters to increase the expenditure limitation; the increased limitation will not raise property taxes or any other county taxes.
Please vote YES on Prop 479.
Darlene Packard
Prescott, Valley
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Vote Yes on Proposition 479 – Change the County’s Expenditure Limit!
Voting Yes on Proposition 479 will provide needed services in Yavapai County and will NOT increase your taxes!
Yavapai County is limited on spending the revenues it receives every year based on an Expenditure Limit set in 1980 with annual adjustments for growth and inflation. However, the County provides many services now that were not in place in 1980 related to public health, safety and welfare, roads and other infrastructure. The current Expenditure Limit has not kept up with the needs of Yavapai County.
As the former County Administrator, I assisted the Board of Supervisors in developing and implementing the budget for ten years, and the restriction of spending funds that were already received by Yavapai County through various sources such as state sales tax, county sales tax and primary property taxes was a factor that limited various worthwhile programs and services throughout the County.
Annually, we would have to recommend denial of budget proposals from departments that would have benefited the citizens of Yavapai County due to the restrictions set by the County’s Expenditure Limit, even though we had the available funding in place.
Please join me in voting YES on Proposition 479 so Yavapai County can use the funding it receives to sustain and implement needed programs and services.
Phil Bourdon
Prescott Valley, AZ
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Today's costs due to inflation have been hitting all of us hard including getting things done at the county level.
Please allow this to happen.
Tom Thurman,
Former County Supervisor Prescott, Arizona
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To the Voters of Yavapai County,
As a former County Supervisor, I am very familiar with the financial responsibilities that the Board of Supervisors is required by Arizona law to perform. Additionally, the Board’s role in maintaining a balanced budget while funding basic services (like law enforcement and the courts) is paramount. Coupled with the continued demand to identify basic services is the need to develop a budget that does not unnecessarily encumber us as taxpayers.
Knowing that our tax rate is low and that our Board has carefully protected our resources is the primary reason I am supportive of Proposition #479. Simply put, the voter approval of this Proposition will allow the County to increase the expenditure limit - not increase our taxes.
A YES vote will allow them to better manage and plan for future expenditures.
Bill Feldmeier
Camp Verde, Arizona
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Please join me in voting YES for Proposition #479.
A yes vote is NOT a vote for a tax increase, in fact, Yavapai County has reduced its tax rate routinely over the last 10 years resulting in a rate lower than it was in 2015.
A YES vote on Prop #479 is a vote to enhance Public Safety, Roads, Transportation Planning, Watershed Management, Criminal Justice and all the other services provided to the citizens of this well managed county.
Let us update the economic assumptions established in 1980 with 2024 realities by voting YES on Prop 479.
Larry Tarkowski
Prescott Valley, Arizona
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To the Citizens of Yavapai County:
Yavapai County Proposition 479 is a much-needed increase to the overall spending limitation of the government of Yavapai County. I am in full support of this proposition for the following reasons:
Yavapai County's growth has been exponential - far beyond what the legislators who crafted the state spending cap ever contemplated more than 40 years ago when it was put into place - and our current cap does not meet the needs of today and beyond.
Simply put, the needs of Yavapai County have far outpaced what the County Board of Supervisors are legally allowed to fund because of the spending cap, despite additional funds already collected and available, including things like the public facing websites we all utilize, infrastructure, roads, and legally required personnel and equipment, not to mention advanced communications equipment for public safety and search and rescue.
I do commend the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors for placing their full commitment in public safety, which is the bedrock of the quality of life. The quality of life we have in Yavapai County is one of the major factors driving the growth we are seeing today. As you know, I have said I am not in support of a tax increase, because it's not necessary.
What is necessary, however, is for the voters of Yavapai County to unlock the tens of millions of dollars already at their fingertips and allow that funding to be spent on infrastructure projects to account for the unprecedented growth.
It is for this reason I am asking you to vote "Yes" on Yavapai County Proposition Number 479.
David Rhodes,
Yavapai County Sheriff Prescott, Arizona
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ARGUMENTS AGAINST PROPOSITION 479
No arguments against were received.