A Scottsdale sales tax is again in the crosshairs of the Goldwater Institute. But the city denies the conservative think tank's claims that the tax hike violates Arizona law.
In a lawsuit filed last week, the Goldwater Institute argues the sales tax increase, passed by a simple majority of Scottsdale voters last fall, needed more robust support — a 60% majority, citing state law.
Scottsdale officials disagree and argue the state's supermajority requirement doesn’t apply to local ballot measures.
It’s the second time Goldwater has scrutinized the sales tax in court.
Last year, they successfully challenged the description Scottsdale officials provided voters on the ballot, arguing it misled voters into thinking the city was reducing the tax, when in fact they were renewing it but at a lower rate.
The measure was revised and then passed with a 58.25% vote, according to Scottsdale.
The latest lawsuit comes less than a month before the tax is scheduled to be implemented on July 1.
