FLAGSTAFF — Prior to the November 6, 2018 election, each household with a registered voter will receive an informational pamphlet that includes arguments for and against proposed questions that have a local impact. Any person interested in submitting an argument is required to do so before August 8, 2016.
The questions are as follows:
Question 418: Amendment to the Flagstaff City Code Chapter 15-01, Minimum Wage, reducing the current minimum wage in Flagstaff to at least the minimum hourly wage imposed by state law and eventually an additional fifty cents per hour; and making other provisions similar to parallel provisions in state law.
Question 419: Shall the City Council have the authority to amend the Tax Code of the City to continue the levy of three existing transaction privilege/sales taxes expiring in 2020 as a single “transportation” transaction privilege/sales tax rate of 0.426% ($0.00426), to be in effect for a period of 21 years beginning July 1, 2020, to be used for the following purposes:
- design, construction, reconstruction, improvement and maintenance of roadways;
- construction, reconstruction and maintenance of walkways, bike paths, pedestrian and bicycle crossings;
- technology and signing;
- acquisition of necessary real estate and related interests;
- all incidental costs including relocation costs; and
- debt service on debt incurred for such purposes
and authorizing the incurrence of debt to accelerate such purposes?
Question 420: Shall the City Council have the authority to amend the Tax Code of the City to levy a transaction privilege/sales tax at a rate of 0.23% ($0.0023) to be in effect for a period of 20 years beginning July 1, 2019, to be used for the Lone Tree Railroad Overpass from Butler Avenue to Route 66, including the following purposes:
- design, construction, reconstruction, improvement and maintenance of bridges and overpasses, and adjacent streets, highways, walkways, trails and bike paths;
- lighting, landscaping, technology and signing;
- acquisition of necessary real estate and related interests;
- all incidental costs including relocation costs; and
- debt service on debt incurred for such purposes
and authorizing the incurrence of debt to accelerate such purposes?
Question 421: Shall the City Council have the authority to amend the Tax Code of the City to levy a transaction privilege/sales tax at a rate of 0.15% ($0.0015) to be in effect for a period of 11 years beginning July 1, 2019, for increasing public transportation including constructing, acquiring, operating, and maintaining equipment and facilities for more frequent transit service within the City of Flagstaff?
Question 422: To address the high cost of housing in Flagstaff, shall the City of Flagstaff be authorized to issue and sell general obligation bonds in a principal amount up to $25,000,000:
- for the purpose of increasing the number of housing units affordable for more residents in the City by construction, rehabilitation, redevelopment and acquisition of land for housing units; and the related infrastructure;
- for the purpose of assisting more Flagstaff residents to afford housing by making loans and grants for the construction, rehabilitation, redevelopment and acquisition of housing units; and the related infrastructure;
- to pay all costs and expenses properly incidental thereto and to the issuance and sale of bonds?
The bonds may be issued in one or more series, will not mature more than 20 years from the date or dates of their issue, will bear interest at a rate or rates not to exceed 10% per annum, and will have such other provisions as are approved by the City Council.
If the bonds are approved the City Council will create and appoint a Housing Bond Committee to advise the City Council on the use of the proceeds of the sale of the bonds and related matters.
The following sentence has been included on this ballot as required by Section 35-454(C), Arizona Revised Statutes: The issuance of these bonds will result in a property tax increase sufficient to pay the annual debt service on the bonds.
Arguments, both for and against, to any of the five questions must be submitted to Stacy Saltzburg, Acting City Clerk, in electronic format at ssaltzburg@flagstaffaz.gov before 4 p.m., Arizona time on August 8, 2018. Arguments are limited to 300 words and must contain the sworn statement of each person sponsoring it; if the argument is sponsored by an organization, it shall contain the sworn statement of two executive officers of the organization or if sponsored by a political committee it shall contain the sworn statement of the committee’s chairman or treasurer. There is no cost associated with submitting an argument. All arguments must be submitted electronically. Please contact the Acting City Clerk at 928-213-2077 with questions. For more information, visit https://www.flagstaff.az.gov/2105/Elections.