The Arizona Senate OK’d a bill that will give Maricopa County voters the chance to extend a transportation tax approved in 2004.
The existing half-cent sales tax ends in 2025. But if voters approve it on the November ballot, it will be renewed in 2026 and last until 2050.
Republican Sen. Sine Kerr (Buckeye) joined the two-thirds of senators approving the measure.
“I don’t want to raise your taxes. But I do want you to decide if you want to continue and extend this tax so that the roads and the programs that are slated to be a priority out in the West Valley can be done," Kerr said.
Opponent of the measure Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R-Scottsdale) said it would be better to wait until 2024 to renew as it would be more clear how inflation and resources would look at that time.
The bill now goes to the House of Representatives. There is an emergency clause that would put the tax before the voters upon a signature from Gov. Ducey.
EDITOR’s NOTE: This story has been updated to clarify the effect of the governor’s signature.
