Our November ballot will feature nine Prescott-area propositions and one Yavapai County proposition. Seven of the City propositions would update language in the City charter.

Prop 401: Repeat elections

The City of Prescott has no formula for multi-seat elections, which has resulted in primary elections being rerun in 2017, 2019 and 2025, despite an established state formula for municipalities unanimously passed by the legislature in 2015. Each election costs about $80,000, so using the state formula in Prescott would have saved taxpayers about $240,000. The results of these rerun elections were all the same as in first.

The formula takes the total number of votes in a race, divides it by the total number of offices in the race, and uses 50% of that number as a threshold to qualify for victory in an initial election. Top vote-getters who receive more than the threshold would qualify for office.

Prop 402: Justice of the Peace

This measure is housekeeping. Prescott no longer employs a Justice of the Peace, and this would eliminate that title from the City charter in favor of City Judge.

Prop 405: PUSD budget override

If voters approve, this would give PUSD authority, for the first time in eleven years, to propose an increase in its maintenance-and-operations budget, which is dedicated to teacher and staff salaries. The proposition would override a state statute limiting how much a school district can raise via taxes. Funding for PUSD ranks among the lowest 1% among US school districts and in the bottom 14% in Arizona, while performing among the top 20% of districts in terms of student achievement. Superintendent Clark Tenney said that without more funding the district’s record of success won’t be sustainable, and it will lose teachers.

Prop 406: PUSD bond issue

The override would allow PUSD to tax an additional 14 cents per $100 valuation in property taxes, averaging $79 more per year per household ($6.50 per month). This would raise $20 million over 20 years or less. The total tax levy will still be lower than most area school districts, because of high property valuations. For instance, in the Jasper development, which includes homes in the Humboldt School District and PUSD, the school property tax is 71% higher for houses in the Humboldt district than the Prescott district, because overall property values are lower in PV and other areas in the Humboldt district.

Tenney said “Because of the wealth in our district, we pay less than almost any other school district in the state.” He points out that Prescott is among twelve districts with the lowest rates, including Scottsdale, Cave Creek, Paradise Valley, Sedona and Catalina Foothills in Tucson.

The bond would pay to replace aging buses, repair roofs, repair and replace HVAC systems, improve technology and school security, and renovate classrooms, among other urgent needs. You’ll find more information at PrescottSchools.com and YesforPUSD.com.

Prop 411: Development rules

Passage of this measure would hold developers responsible for extending utility connections, roads and easements to their own private property lines. Past development agreements have left City taxpayers to pay about $100 million in improvements to developers, which we will have fund by borrowing.

Prop 412: Development open space

Currently developers can calculate road medians, setbacks, drainage ditches and fence lines as open space, limiting the effectiveness of City open-space policy. This measure would require residential developments of over 250 acres annexed into the City to preserve 25% of the acreage as meaningful, functional and practical open space. In exchange for the provision of City water, sewer and services in perpetuity, the City must receive tangible value, such as open space.

Prop 413: Real-estate appraisals

This measure would require the City to get an independent appraisal for any real-estate transaction involving public property.

Prop 414: Development agreements

This measure would eliminate the term “adjoining and adjacent properties” from City development agreements, instead requiring that each agreement be freestanding, with no effect on future unspecified properties. It would also require a defined term and expiration date for every development agreement, to help manage water, growth and development.

Prop 415: City judge accreditation

In addition to changing “Justice of the Peace” to “City Judge,” this measure would require that the judge be an attorney licensed in Arizona in good standing, and adhere to the Arizona Code of Judicial Conduct.

Prop 497: Jail district excise tax

This measure would increase the local sales tax by a quarter cent to offset the increasing cost of running the county jail.

Proponents claim it will reduce property taxes because the County is currently covering the deficit by drawing from its general fund. This is at least misleading, asserting that visitors paying sales tax will make up the difference, when visitors contribute only 20% of local ales taxes. (Groceries, prescription drugs and medical devices remain exempt from sales tax.) While there’s no objective indication that the measure will reduce property taxes, it might head off a property-tax increase to make up the deficit. You'll find information for the sales tax at voteyesonprop497.com.

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