Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs announced Monday that she wants to extend tax breaks for developers who create affordable housing, and the plan may get bipartisan support.
Low-income housing tax credits are an incentive for developers to construct or rehabilitate affordable rental housing.
Historically, those tax credits have been supported by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns, the lobbying body for municipalities that lawmakers look to on housing matters.
It’s also a program favored by Republican Rep. Jeff Weninger (R-Chandler).
“I have always been supportive of LIHTC. I have already talked to the governor’s office about some scoring criteria that I think could be important,” Weninger said.
Weninger is the new chair of the House Commerce Committee. He said he still needs to see the details of Hobbs’ plan before committing to it, but notes the program, started under President Ronald Reagan, has a bipartisan history.
Sen. President Warren Petersen (R-Gilbert) said housing affordability is a priority for him too, but he also bashed Hobbs for a building moratorium she instituted on parts of the Valley due to low groundwater levels.
“We agree with the governor that homeownership has become unaffordable for many Arizonans, but the executive’s mandate halting home construction in two booming areas of the Valley was completely irresponsible and first-time homebuyers are suffering the consequences of sky-high prices,” Petersen said.
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In a policy session Tuesday, the Phoenix City Council approved a budget that includes several new investments in housing affordability and homeless services.
