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| ARF- 2552 |
Regular Agenda Item 3. I.
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| Regular BOS Meeting |
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| Information |
| Request/Subject |
| Gila County 1/2 Cent Transportation Excise Tax Continuation Update |
| Background Information |
The existing 1/2 Cent Transportation Excise Tax was approved by the voters in November of 1994 taking effect January 1, 1995, and expiring December 31, 2014.
At the October 29, 2013 Work Session, the Board of Supervisors agreed to seek out citizens who may be willing to serve on the Citizens' Committee.
At the November 26, 2013 Regular Meeting, the Board of Supervisors agreed to provide the names of potential Citizens Committee members.
At the December 17, 2013 Regular Meeting, the Board of Supervisors held a discussion regarding the list of names that was comprised by County staff.
At the January 7, 2014 Regular Meeting, the Board of Supervisors appointed a Gila County Transportation Excise Tax Continuation Citizens Committee (TETCCC) and approved seventeen individuals to serve on the Committee.
On January 28, 2014, Gila County staff met with the TETCCC in Tonto Basin. Each committee member was provided with an excise tax summary report, talking points, a time line and transportation studies. The committee understood their limited responsibility and that the group would be disbanded once their recommendation was provided to the Board of Supervisors.
On February 14, 2014, Gila County staff met with City and Town Managers in Globe and in Payson via ITV. Representatives from Globe, Payson, Winkelman and Miami were present. There were no representatives from Hayden or Star Valley. City and town managers discussed three options regarding the methods of distribution and they unanimously agreed the best option in distributing transportation tax funds would be by population.
At the February 18, 2014 Regular Meeting, the Board of Supervisors received an updated list of TETCCC members and approved the following sixteen committee members: Gary Andress, Don Ascoli, Robert Bleyl, Ed Carpenter, Darryl Dalley, Rex Henshaw, Mitchell Malkovich, Ronnie McDaniel, Joe Miller, Dixie Mundy, Mickie Nye, Melvin Palmer, Marie Petroff, Cliff Potts, Rick Powers (Chair), and Jose Sanchez.
On February 20, 2014, Gila County staff met with the TETCCC in Globe and in Payson via ITV. A staff report was provided and a motion was made and unanimously approved by the committee to recommend to the Board of Supervisors that they call for an election.
At the March 4, 2014 Regular Meeting, the Board of Supervisors received the TETCCC recommendation to adopt a resolution calling for a November 4, 2014 election providing funding to be used solely and only for highway and street purposes and continuing the existing transportation excise tax to provide money for said purposes. The Board acknowledged the committee members with a certificate of appreciation. The Board officially disbanded the Transportation Excise Tax Continuation Citizens Committee. |
| Evaluation |
The Gila County 1/2 Cent Transportation Excise Tax has been vital in providing necessary funds to supplement the Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF) which maintains and improves streets and roadways in Gila County. Not continuing the tax would severely cripple all transportation improvements and in the future would become progressively critical each year without the tax.
Five items are being presented by staff at this meeting for Board information and discussion regarding the 2014 Gila County 1/2 Cent Transportation Excise Tax as follows: (1) a time line of events; (2) a draft needs and levy Resolution; (3) a draft Resolution to call for an election;(4) the method of distribution of proceeds to the cities and towns; and, (5) a draft suggested resolution of support from the cities and towns.
At the Board's June 24, 2014 meeting, staff will request the adoption of the needs and levy resolution.
At the Board's July 1, 2014 meeting, staff will request the adoption of a resolution calling for an election on November 4, 2014
The last day to call for an election is July 7, 2014. |
| Conclusion |
The extension of this tax for another 20 years is critcial to the continued success of the highway and roadway maintenance and improvement program in unincorporated Gila County as well as within the cities and towns. A citizens' committee was formed to explore the need to continue the tax and the committee made a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors to hold an election. The Board of Supervisors received the committees' recommendation on March 4, 2014.
Staff would appreciate comments from the Board of Supervisors regarding the time line of events, the method of distributing proceeds to the cities and towns and the three draft resolutions.
Staff expects that after the needs and levy Resolution is adopted by the Board, the former Citizens Committee members would begin to organize a Campaign Committee. While that is not a committee the Board appoints, they will work closely with staff from the County and the cities and towns in gathering pertinent information for the Campaign. Usually the Campaign Committee is legally formed as a Political Action Committee (PAC) after the call for the election. |
| Recommendation |
| Staff recommends that the Board review and provide comments regarding the 2014 Gila County 1/2 Cent Transportation Excise Tax as follows: (1) a time line of events; (2) a draft needs and levy Resolution with the understanding that the Needs and Levy Resolution will be presented at the June 24, 2014 Regular meeting for adoption; (3) a draft Resolution to call for an election in November with the understanding that the call for an election Resolution will be presented at the July 1, 2014 Regular meeting for adoption; (4) the method of distribution of the proceeds to the cities and towns; and (5) a draft suggested resolution of support from the cities and towns. |
| Suggested Motion |
| Information/Discussion to review and provide comments regarding the 2014 Gila County 1/2 Cent Transportation Excise Tax as follows: (1) a time line of events; (2) a draft needs and levy Resolution with the understanding that the Needs and Levy Resolution will be presented at the June 24, 2014 Regular meeting for adoption; (3) a draft Resolution to call for an election in November with the understanding that the call for an election Resolution will be presented at the July 1, 2014 Regular meeting for adoption; (4) the method of distribution of the proceeds to the cities and towns; and (5) a draft suggested resolution of support from the cities and towns. (Don McDaniel) |
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