PHOENIX — A Maricopa County sales tax that helps pays for our transit system including, highways, buses, and the light rail is set to expire, if our state lawmakers don't act fast.
Key Republicans oppose spending any money on the light rail. That could block an extension of the penny-on-the-dollar tax.
Gov. Katie Hobbs has already said she'll veto a Republican-backed bill that she says doesn't meet the needs of the county's fast-growing economy.
"What they sent to my desk, is not it," she told 12News.
The governor suggested the latest bill "ties the hands" of Maricopa County voters.
"It is ridiculous that Maricopa County has to go to the Legislature to get permission to go to the ballot. For something that's important for their region but this is something that's important for the whole state," Gov. Hobbs added.
Cities like Mesa have spent a great deal of time constructing a new transit plan that serves all travelers, regardless of mode of transportation.
Mayor John Giles of Mesa said the city's plan won't get to voters. Instead, a bill passed Tuesday would split the vote on extending the Prop 400 tax into two parts - a vote on streets and highways and another ballot on the light rail.
"The Maricopa Association of Governments has been working for years, using the formula that the legislature dictated to us, has to how to come up with a regional transportation plan and that's what was to be submitted to the voters," Mayor Giles explained. "The majority of this funding goes to freeways, only about 4% of it goes to light rail, for example."
Republican Sen. Jake Hoffman told 12News even that 4% of funding for the light rail is wasted.
"Taxpayers shouldn't be forced to fund a transit system like light rail that accommodates less than 1% of the Valley commuters," he said.
Sen. Hoffman added that voters should have a choice when it comes to their tax dollars.
"We're going to let the voters have an actual say on whether or not they want to continue funding a multi-billion-dollar failure or whether r they'd actually spend on better roadways and freeways," he said.
Mayor Giles though said he's focused on the big picture growth in Maricopa County and transit sustainability, and hopes to keep Prop 400, and the current tax, as is.
"We want to continue that plan, it will continue to pay for roads and streets, highways, and transit, all of the infrastructure that makes those programs possible," Mayor Giles explained.
If not, Gov. Hobbs said it's on to other options.
"The stakeholders have a plan B, I don't know all the details of it but it involved a statewide initiative, it's probably not the best option but it's an option that's available."
Lawmakers don't plan to head back to session until the end of July, however, they could consider more versions of Prop 400, in the coming months.
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