North Pima News

Arizona State Rep. Justin Heap (R-AZ) took to platform X, formerly known as Twitter, on Monday to express his disappointment with the passage of Senate Bill 1102. This legislation will result in Maricopa County voters determining whether to extend Proposition 400, a tax aimed at funding public transportation.

"A disappointing day, we had plenty of time to craft a better Prop 400 bill. Thank you to the many great (Representatives) who fought with us and the many citizens to reached out with support and encouragement. Conservatives are happy warriors so it's on to the next fight," Heap said in his July 31 post.

State conservatives express dissatisfaction with the decision to pass the bill, leading to Proposition 400 being presented to voters for the third instance since 1984. This bill's approval followed Arizona's longest-ever legislative session, lasting 204 days, surpassing the previous record set in 1988 at 173 days. The tax revenue is intended for street, highway and public transportation projects in Maricopa County. However, without Hobbs' endorsement, the entire state risks competing with Maricopa for "limited state transportation funding," according to a report by AZ Mirror.

"Today, bipartisan leaders invested in the future of Arizona families, businesses, and communities," Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said in a post on platform X. "The passage of the Prop 400 ballot measure will secure the economic future of our state and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for Arizonans. I am glad we were able to put politics aside and do what is right for Arizona."

The tax was initially approved in 2004 and is scheduled to lapse by the end of 2025. The bill secured House approval with a vote of 43-14 and subsequently gained Senate endorsement with a vote of 19-7. The bill consists of a $24 billion allotment that spans two decades, designating 40.5% for freeways and highways, 37% for public transit and 22.5% for roads and intersections. An earlier rendition of SB1102 was previously endorsed by both legislative chambers in June, primarily backed by Republicans. However, Governor Hobbs vetoed that version, according to AZ Mirror.

"I voted NO on the prop 400 transportation excise tax for Maricopa County," Arizona Rep. Austin Smith said in a recent post. "Taxpayer dollars are not ours to dish out haphazardly - especially to the tune of 20 BILLION dollars with potential consequences that ruin valley transportation."