Post by Logan on May 11, 2016 4:45:05 GMT -6
Ducey vetoes bill that would allow developers to levy taxes on homeowners
A bill that would have given developers the authority to levy taxes on homeowners was vetoed by Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday.
The governor rejected House Bill 2568, a priority of House Speaker David Gowan, citing concerns the legislation could harm taxpayers. The bill would have changed financing rules for community facilities districts, which are special taxing districts created to pay for infrastructure such as roads, sewers and water lines.
Gowan, backed by a coalition of developers and investors, argued the bill would allow development to proceed more rapidly, primarily because it would have loosened some control local governments have over formation of the districts. For example, it would have mandated a district be formed upon request by landowners, and it would have given developers more control of the district's financing.
Local governments pushed back, complaining the bill would minimize the oversight cities and towns provide on the tax rate needed to pay for infrastructure. Local government, controlled by elected officials, is more accountable than a board controlled by unelected developers or their designees, they said.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2016/05/10/ducey-vetoes-bill-would-allow-developers-levy-taxes-homeowners/84186444/
This is a reasonable veto since developers are accountable to the taxpayers in this instance and unjust levies could occur along with possible corruption on the part of the developers.
A bill that would have given developers the authority to levy taxes on homeowners was vetoed by Gov. Doug Ducey on Tuesday.
The governor rejected House Bill 2568, a priority of House Speaker David Gowan, citing concerns the legislation could harm taxpayers. The bill would have changed financing rules for community facilities districts, which are special taxing districts created to pay for infrastructure such as roads, sewers and water lines.
Gowan, backed by a coalition of developers and investors, argued the bill would allow development to proceed more rapidly, primarily because it would have loosened some control local governments have over formation of the districts. For example, it would have mandated a district be formed upon request by landowners, and it would have given developers more control of the district's financing.
Local governments pushed back, complaining the bill would minimize the oversight cities and towns provide on the tax rate needed to pay for infrastructure. Local government, controlled by elected officials, is more accountable than a board controlled by unelected developers or their designees, they said.
Read more: www.azcentral.com/story/news/politics/arizona/2016/05/10/ducey-vetoes-bill-would-allow-developers-levy-taxes-homeowners/84186444/
This is a reasonable veto since developers are accountable to the taxpayers in this instance and unjust levies could occur along with possible corruption on the part of the developers.