The Pima County Board of Supervisors budget hearing is scheduled for May 21 and new tax levies are being proposed by County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry. The proposed 5 percent property tax rate increase for next year will amount to about a $35 increase for average single-family homeowners.
Huckelberry has proposed a $1.27 billion budget for next year, which is about 2.6 percent higher than this year. Much of the increase will fund pay raises for County employees, with and estimated cost of $6.6 million.
Only 100 miles of road repairs are included at a cost of $5 million, but bonuses for some employees are included as well, estimated to cost taxpayers $5.3 million. The bonuses would grant County staff from $200 to $1000 each, depending on the length of their employment.
Huckelberry’s plan includes a huge increase in the library district property-tax rate of 3 cents, to 37.5 cents per $100 of assessed value.
Huckelberry’s plan is expected to add $17.5 million to the County coffers.
Pima County, specifically Tucson, is the 6th poorest metropolitan area in the country. The pay of government workers in the area is well above the average resident.