Tucson, Arizona, Proposition 410, Increases to Mayoral and City Council Compensation Amendment (November 2021)
| Tucson Proposition 410 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Election date November 2, 2021 | |
| Topic Salaries of local officials | |
Status Defeated | |
| Type Referral | Origin Lawmakers |
Tucson Proposition 410 was on the ballot as a referral in Tucson on November 2, 2021. It was defeated.
A "yes" vote supported amending the city's charter to increase the compensation for the mayor from $42,000 to $54,000 and the compensation for city council members from $24,000 to $36,000 beginning on December 4, 2023, and tying the compensation to inflation for every following year. |
A "no" vote opposed amending the city's charter to increase the compensation for the mayor from $42,000 to $54,000 and the compensation for city council members from $24,000 to $36,000. |
A simple majority was required for the approval of Proposition 410.
Since 1999 when the existing compensation was set, Tucson voters have defeated eight measures to increase it.[1]
Election results
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Tucson Proposition 410 |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
| Result | Votes | Percentage | ||
| Yes | 41,291 | 49.42% | ||
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42,261 | 50.58% | ||
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- Results are officially certified.
- Source
Text of measure
Ballot title
The ballot title for Proposition 410 was as follows:
| “ | PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE CHARTER RECOMMENDED BY THE CITIZENS' COMMISSION ON PUBLIC SERVICE AND COMPENSATION:
OFFICIAL TITLE: PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO SECTIONS 8 AND 9 OF CHAPTER V OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF TUCSON, RELATING TO COMPENSATION OF THE MAYOR AND THE MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL, PROVIDING THAT, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 4, 2023, THE MAYOR'S SALARY SHALL INCREASE FROM $42,000 TO $54,000 PER YEAR, AND THE COUNCIL MEMBERS' SALARY SHALL INCREASE FROM $24,000 TO $36,000 PER YEAR, AND FURTHER PROVIDING THAT IN EACH SUCCEEDING YEAR, BOTH THE MAYOR'S AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' SALARIES SHALL BE INCREASED BY THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN COST OF LIVING, AS MEASURED BY THE MOST RECENT AUGUST-TO-AUGUST CHANGE IN THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR'S CONSUMER PRICE INDEX. DESCRIPTIVE TITLE: PROPOSED CHARTER AMENDMENT TO INCREASE THE MAYOR'S SALARY FROM $42,000 TO $54,000 PER YEAR, AND COUNCIL MEMBERS' SALARIES FROM $24,000 TO $36,000 PER YEAR, EFFECTIVE DECEMBER 4, 2023, AND THEN INCREASE THOSE SALARIES EACH SUCCESSIVE YEAR BY THE PERCENTAGE INCREASE IN COST-OF-LIVING SHOWN BY THE FEDERAL CONSUMER PRICE INDEX.
A 'YES' vote shall have the effect of increasing the salary of the Mayor from $42,000 to $54,000 per year, and the salaries of the Council Members from $24,000 to $36,000 per year, effective December 4, 2023, and of increasing both the Mayor's and Council Members' salaries in each succeeding year by the percentage increase in cost of living calculated from the U.S. Department of Labor's Consumer Price Index. A 'NO' vote shall have the effect of continuing the salary of the Mayor at the pre-existing level of $42,000 per year, and the salaries of the Council Members at the pre-existing level of $24,000 per year. | ” |
Full Text
The full text of this measure is available here.
Support
Supporters
- The Center for Economic Integrity[2]
- Tucson Young Professionals[2]
- Tucson Metro Chamber[2]
- Las Adelitas Arizona[2]
- Southern Arizona Leadership Council[2]
- Arizona List[2]
Arguments
- Laura Dent, one of seven members of the Citizens Commission on Public Service and Compensation, said, "These folks are deciding on our water security, urban planning, land use, hugely critical issues for our city and they’re making less than minimum wage. It just isn’t right."[1]
- Paul Cunningham, councilman for Ward 2, said, "When you make it so prohibitive that the only people who can run are independently wealthy or retired, you’re really not getting a cross section of what Tucson is."[1]
Opposition
If you are aware of any opponents or opposing arguments, please send an email with a link to editor@ballotpedia.org.
Arguments
- Bailey Hollingsworth submitted an argument to the 2021 Election Pamphlet that said, "I support everything the mayor and council do for the city of Tucson and I commemorate them for their public service, but raising their salaries by $12,000 is too much. Raising everyone's salary by $12,000 would amount to $84,000 annually. ... In this sense, $84,000 won't make a difference to the mayor and council for improving their service to Tucson, but it would make a huge difference helping the people by expanding human resources, improving community health, and providing much needed health services. So, what's the solution to the underlying problem? I suggest the mayor and council ask for a smaller raise next time and show the people how many hours they're serving."[2]
Path to the ballot
This measure was put on the ballot through a unanimous vote of the Tucson City Council on August 10, 2021. The salary increase was recommended by the Citizens’ Commission on Public Service and Compensation.[2][3]
See also
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Tucson.com, "Tucson City Council makes below minimum wage, Prop. 410 seeks to fix that," October 19, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 Tucsonaz.gov, "2021 Election Pamphlet," accessed October 21, 2021
- ↑ Tucson City Council, "August 10, 2021 meeting summary," accessed October 21, 2021
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