Arizona tax breaks for homeless hazards on November ballot—to be funded by state revenue sharing with local governments.
By Eileen Griffin
Arizonans are requesting tax breaks to compensate them for the costs of public nuisances caused by rampant homelessness.
Arizona residents fed up with leadership failures that have resulted in growing problems caused by the homeless will have a chance to vote for a ballot proposition that would provide compensatory tax breaks in the November election, the Goldwater Institute reports.
The Republican-controlled state legislature passed a ballot referral that calls for property tax refunds to residents if the leaders in Arizona cities continue to disregard hazards caused by homelessness. Property owners could have an amount refunded from their state taxes if the value of their property has been reduced due to the squalor and criminal activity connected to the homeless population, Arizona’s Family reports.
The proposal also allows homeowners to take a tax deduction for expenses caused by the homeless in their community.
Residents are forced to address the public nuisance issues because elected officials neglect to manage the situation. The tax refund would be taken from the city or county that is neglecting to handle the homeless. Refunds will not touch the part of state revenue allocated to school districts.
House Concurrent Resolution 2023, sponsored by Republican Speaker Ben Toma (R-District 8) and an identical bill (SCR 1006) sponsored by Senate President Warren Petersen (R-District 14), cleared the legislature by a Senate vote on March 5.
Republicans voted in favor and Democrats voting against. It will to the ballot for a vote without the signature of Gov. Katie Hobbs (D).
“I introduced SCR 1006 to allow property owners to apply for a property tax refund if cities or counties fail to take action against a public nuisance that negatively impacts their property value, subject to voter approval,” Petersen wrote in his weekly newsletter.
Although the proposals have proved popular with residents, Petersen noted that all Democrats voted against SCR 1006.
The Goldwater Institute, a freedom-focused think tank, came up with the tax refund policy introduced by Arizona Republicans.
“Arizonans no longer trust that their tax dollars are being used by local governments to enforce the law and address rampant homelessness,” Goldwater President and CEO Victor Riches wrote on the organization’s news page. “This ballot measure will ensure that when municipalities fail to do their job, business and property owners are not left holding the bag.”
Riches says that the Arizona proposal is the first of its kind. Others may follow suit as many communities are suffering with crime, drugs, and unsanitary conditions caused by an unrestrained homeless population.
The tax refund is designed to provide residents financial relief while also encouraging local governments to take responsibility for the growing homeless intrusion.
“All around the state, local governments have spent months and years refusing to address their homelessness crises by enforcing the law,” Riches writes. “The result: law and order give way to death and destruction as violent crime, public drug use, and vandalism run rampant in these lawless homeless encampments.”
Toma told The Center Square that Arizona residents deserve better leadership. Local governments should be held accountable for their refusal to provide health and safety services for residents.
“Arizonans have had enough when it comes to lawlessness and city inaction,” Toma told the outlet. “Business owners and residents alike are having their property stolen, vandalized, or terrorized and are desperate for help.”
“Law-abiding Americans should never have to live in fear of being robbed, assaulted, or murdered by criminals and thugs who are allowed to get away with breaking the law,” Toma writes on his campaign webpage. “Enough is enough.”