Arizona Proposition 13 (2008)

Not on Ballot
This measure was not put on an election ballot

:This article was about a 2008 ballot measure in Arizona. For other measures with a similar title, see Proposition 13.

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Prop 13 Arizona failed to qualify for the November 4, 2008 ballot in Arizona. It was proposed as an initiated constitutional amendment modeled after California's Prop 13. Its supporters needed to collect 230,047 valid signatures by July 3 to accomplish that, but did not reach this goal.

The measure would have redefined how real property is valued for tax purposes, established maximum tax limits, and eliminated exceptions to the tax limits. It would have required that property valuations cannot increase by more than 2% per year. (The maximum residential property tax is 1/2 of 1% (.5%) of value. For all other real property the maximum property tax is 1% of value.)

Supporters of the idea behind the 2008 measure are trying to qualify a similar measure, Prop 13 Arizona (2010), for Arizona's 2010 ballot.

Supporters

Prop 13 Arizona, Inc. were the official sponsors of the initiative. Some of the arguments they made in favor of the measure included:

• The group's website quoted The Wall Street Journal, that for every $100 increase in your property taxes, it will reduce the value of your home by $1,200.
• Arizona has the 4th highest commercial property tax rates in the nation. By reducing the property tax rate to 0.5% for residential and 1% for all other real property it will make the state competitive with other states like California which will draw in new business.

• After California passed Prop 13 it kicked off 12 years of unprecedented growth and economic prosperity in their state.

• Bond propositions from 2006 led to a dramatic increase in property taxes. Some Phoenix residents have seen property value increase at much as 50 percent, leaving some struggling to pay their taxes.

The Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Association, which passed the original Prop 13, endorsed Arizona's 2008 attempt.

Opposition

Local government entities objected to Arizona Prop 13 saying it would slash their budget.

Ken Strobeck, executive director of the League of Arizona Cities and Towns said, "We already have constitutional limits on property tax. There are safeguards already built in." He also argued that passing Prop 13 would force tax hikes in other areas.

See also

• Arizona 2008 ballot measures
• Laws governing the initiative process in Arizona
• Campaign finance requirements for Arizona ballot measures
• Arizona signature requirements
• Petition drive deadlines in 2008

External links

• Proposition 13 and Its Offspring:For Good or for Evil?, National Tax Journal, March 1999
• Prop 13 Arizona Official website
• Downloadable petition
• Official text of the initiative (dead link)
• California Proposition 13 homepage
• Tax initiative offers relief for Arizona property owners
• Swift action needed on this crisis