Proposition 100
Official Title
An Initiative Measure
Proposing an amendment to article ix of the Arizona constitution by adding a new section 24 relating
to a prohibition of any new real property sale or transfer tax in Arizona.
Text of Proposed Amendment
Be it enacted by the
People of the State of Arizona:
1. Article IX, Section
24, Constitution of Arizona is proposed to be added as follows if approved by
the voters and on proclamation of the Governor:
ARTICLE IX, SECTION 24,
PROHIBITION OF NEW REAL PROPERTY SALE
OR TRANSFER TAXES
THE STATE, ANY COUNTY,
CITY, TOWN, MUNICIPALITY OR OTHER POLITICAL SUBDIVISION OF THE STATE, OR ANY
DISTRICT CREATED BY LAW WITH AUTHORITY TO IMPOSE ANY TAX, FEE, STAMP
REQUIREMENT OR OTHER ASSESSMENT, SHALL NOT IMPOSE ANY NEW TAX, FEE, STAMP
REQUIREMENT OR OTHER ASSESSMENT, DIRECT OR INDIRECT, ON THE ACT OR PRIVILEGE OF
SELLING, PURCHASING, GRANTING, ASSIGNING, TRANSFERRING, RECEIVING, OR OTHERWISE
CONVEYING ANY INTEREST IN REAL PROPERTY. THIS SECTION DOES NOT APPLY TO ANY TAX,
FEE, OR OTHER ASSESSMENT IN EXISTENCE ON DECEMBER 31, 2007.
2. The Secretary of
State shall submit this amendment to the voters at the next general election as
provided by Article XXI of the Arizona Constitution.
Analysis by
Legislative Council
Proposition 100 would
amend the Arizona Constitution to prohibit the state or any county, city, town
or other political subdivision of the state from directly or indirectly
imposing any new tax, fee or other assessment on the sale, purchase, transfer
or other conveyance of any interest in real property (such as homes and other
real estate). This proposed measure would not affect any tax, fee or other
assessment in existence prior to this year.
Fiscal Impact
Statement
State law requires the
Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) Staff to prepare a summary of the
fiscal impact of certain ballot measures. Proposition 100 is not estimated to
have a direct state or local fiscal impact. The proposition prohibits the
imposition of new fees or taxes on the sale or transfer of real property after
December 31, 2007. No such new fee or tax has been enacted since that date. The
level of foregone revenues cannot be predicted in advance as it would depend on
the specific details of a particular tax proposal.
Arguments
"For" Proposition 100
As the Chairman and
Treasurer of the Protect Our Homes Initiative, we urge all Arizonans to vote
YES for Proposition 100, a cause we truly believe in - protecting our families
and businesses from a damaging real estate sales or transfer tax on our homes
or property.
A real estate sales or
transfer tax is both unfair to Arizonans and bad fiscal policy for our economy.
Since home and property owners already pay annual property taxes, an additional
tax, levied at the time people buy, sell or even transfer ownership of their
home into a legal trust or to a family member, would be double taxation.
Proposition 100 will protect the equity that people have worked so hard to
build in their homes and property, equity that would be negatively impacted by the
increased costs associated with a real estate sales or transfer tax. Further,
our initiative will help keep housing affordable in Arizona by preventing a rise in closing
costs and will allow more Arizonans and their families to purchase a home or
property while protecting those living on a fixed or low income.
Protecting families and
businesses from double taxation and keeping housing affordable is good for
Arizonans and for our economy. We are proud to serve this initiative as the
Chairman and Treasurer because we truly believe the Protect Our Homes
Initiative is the right thing for you and the right thing for Arizona. Please join us in voting YES on
Proposition 100 to protect our communities from unfair real estate sales or
transfer taxes.
Frank Dickens, Chairman, Protect Our Homes, Phoenix
Craig Sanford, Treasurer, Protect Our Homes, Phoenix
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes”
As an Arizona
homeowner since 1974 and a current candidate for the Pima County Board of
Supervisors, I strongly support this initiative to prohibit any new sales tax
on our homes and property.
It's a matter of
government fiscal accountability. There's no amount of money that a financially
irresponsible administration cannot spend. Voters must monitor how carefully
our elected officials use the dollars they've already been given. Our enormous
state budget deficit and record levels of spending in Pima County
in recent years make it clear that these folks don't deserve even more of our
hard-earned cash.
It's common for
spendthrift governments to waste money or to underfund their mandated
responsibilities and then cry to taxpayers for more financing. For example,
although road maintenance is a top mandate for all Arizona
counties, Pima County "puts NO general fund money
toward maintenance." (Arizona
Daily Star, 5-18-2008) This is absurd.
Governments collect
windfalls on our homes each year in the form of property taxes. Now they're
contemplating additional taxation to make beleaguered taxpayers bail them out
of their financial mess.
Don't allow it. The
answer is responsible spending, not higher taxes.
A demand for more money
typically indicates that government has failed to live within its means.
Families and individuals can't legally reach into their fellow citizens'
pockets in tight fiscal times. Overspending governments shouldn't be allowed to
do it either. With real estate sales dropping, new taxes will serve only to
further depress the economy and put home purchases farther out of reach,
especially for first-time buyers. Vote YES to approve Prop 100. Stop all levels
of Arizona
government from being even more wasteful with your taxes.
Barney Brenner, Tucson
Argument In Favor of the Protect Our Homes
Initiative
On behalf of the Arizona chapter of Americans for Prosperity (www.aztaxpayers.org),
we encourage all Arizona
taxpayers to vote YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to protect working
Arizonans and their families from a harmful real estate sales
or transfer tax. Too often, governments in other states have used a real estate
sales or transfer tax as a new source of revenue to balance bloated budgets.
Once this type of tax is put in place, no matter how low the rate is in the
beginning, it always ends up being raised. The results are substantial
increases in fees for real estate closing.
In Arizona, we already
pay multiple taxes and fees on our homes, making a real estate sales or
transfer tax a form of double (or triple) taxation, which we can all agree is
wrong. Further, a real estate sales or transfer tax would add yet another layer
to the costs of closing. That would decrease your equity and damage your
ability to sell your home. That would hurt everyone in Arizona. Our state economy is already in a
recession, and a real estate sales or transfer tax would make that situation even
worse by hurting our state's economic growth. We believe that it is vital to
protect home buyers from a real estate sales or transfer tax, so again, we urge
all Arizona
taxpayers to vote YES on Prop 100, the Protect Our Homes Initiative.
Chad Kirkpatrick,
Arizona Chairman, Americans for Prosperity, Phoenix
Thomas Jenney, Arizona Director, Americans for
Prosperity, Phoenix
Paid for by "Americans for
Prosperity"
The Arizona Tax Revolt
strongly urges a YES VOTE on Proposition 100.
The Arizona Tax Revolt www.ArizonaTaxRevolt.org has been
fighting for lower property taxes since 2006. Though this measure will not
reduce existing property taxes, since today there isn't a real estate transfer
tax, it will assure that a real estate transfer tax can never be collected.
This measure takes us a step closer to a predictable and affordable property
taxation system.
The Arizona Tax Revolt
met with and was instrumental in convincing the Arizona Association of Realtors
to champion this initiative which effectively precludes a transfer tax on the
sale of real property.
The state faces
significant fiscal challenges due in large part to overspending. Without this
important taxpayer protection it is likely that government will enact new taxes
on real estate sales. These taxes could be as much as a full year's property
tax bill, or even higher merely for the privilege of a rubber stamp upon
recordation of the transfer of ownership. A transfer tax would further reduce
property values and the equity in our homes.
Everyone knows that the
property taxation system is in need of an overhaul. With your support between
now and 2010 the Arizona Tax Revolt will bring about a long overdue reduction
in your property taxes. After all there is no reason why your taxable valuation
and tax bill should increase due to real estate price inflation and
unrestrained property tax levy increases. The 2 percent levy limit has worked
well for primary taxing entities and must be expanded to keep secondary taxes
and our property tax bills in check.
Please join us and Vote YES!!!
Marc Goldstone, Chairman, Arizona Tax Revolt in
support of C-13-2008, Bullhead City
Paid for by "Arizona Tax Revolt
in support of C-13-2008"
Vote YES on Proposition 100 and protect your
property from another tax.
This initiative would
prohibit any transfer or sales tax on the sale of real property including your
home, business, farm, ranch or rental property. Since Arizona does not
currently have such a tax, there are no fiscal impacts on government. This
initiative simply removes the temptation of government to enact it. We view
these types of taxes, particularly on your business, farm, ranch
or rental property as a form of triple taxation - a path we wish to avoid in Arizona for real
property owners already paying their fare share through property, capital gains
and income taxes.
Kevin Rogers, President, Arizona Farm Bureau, Gilbert
Jim Klinker, Chief
Administrative Officer, Arizona
Farm Bureau, Gilbert
Paid for by "Arizona Farm
Bureau"
Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry Urges YES
Vote on Protect Our Homes
As Chairman-Elect and
President of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, we understand that
voting YES on the Protect Our Homes initiative will provide the strongest form
of protection possible from a real estate sales or transfer tax. Such a tax
would affect both big and small businesses as well as individuals and families.
Because home and business owners already contribute to the state through annual
property taxes, an additional tax would be double taxation. We think we can all
agree this is unfair and is not the type of smart, fiscal policy we need to
stimulate the Arizona
economy. In fact, a real estate sales or transfer tax would do just the
opposite by creating barriers to home and property ownership, stifling growth
and job creation, and making it harder for businesses to succeed in Arizona. As
businessmen and family men, we want to make sure that such a tax never becomes
a reality. We are voting YES on Protect Our Homes to ensure that Arizona businesses and
families are never harmed by such a damaging tax.
Glenn Hamer, President & CEO, Arizona
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Phoenix
Don Robinson, Chairman-Elect, Arizona
Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Phoenix
Paid for by "Arizona Chamber of
Commerce and Industry"
Prohibit Double Taxation NOW!
A "Yes" vote
on Proposition 100, the "Protect Our Homes" citizen's initiative,
will prohibit the state, county, or city from double taxing your home or
business facility through a real estate transfer tax. A real estate transfer
tax is essentially a new sales tax that is assessed on your home or business
when the property is sold or transferred from one party to another.
VOTE YES on Prop 100, the "Protect Our Homes" citizen's
initiative because:
1. Real estate sales or transfer taxes are
regressive and therefore higher for lower income households;
2. Real estate sales or transfer taxes are
discriminatory as they single out one type of asset - real estate - while
similar taxes are rarely applied to financial assets, such as stocks and bonds;
3. A real estate sales or transfer tax will make
Arizona less attractive for commercial recruitment by major companies in light
of the higher cost of new and existing housing resulting from a real estate
sale or transfer tax as the availability of quality affordable housing is often
an important factor in site selection decisions; and
4. A real estate sales or transfer tax on
commercial property would reduce not only the amount of companies wanting to
relocate to Arizona but also the number of office and industrial projects built
providing jobs for Arizonans.
At a time when property
taxes are increasing for most Arizonans along with record home foreclosures,
now is the time to act to prohibit this type of double taxation. Please vote "Yes" on Prop 100, the
"Protect Our Homes" citizen's initiative.
Tim Lawless, President, Arizona
Chapter of NAIOP, Phoenix
Chris Toci, Chairman
of the Board, Arizona Chapter of NAIOP, Paradise Valley
Paid for by "Arizona Chapter of
NAIOP"
The Arizona Contractors Association urges voters
to Protect Our Homes and vote YES on Proposition 100.
Arizonans have
experienced a rollercoaster ride in the housing market. Valuations roared up to
new heights only to come back to earth in a steep plunge that is only now
bottoming out.
Homeowners are uneasy
with the value of their single largest investment falling by 10 percent, 20
percent or even more.
The last thing we need
during an economic slowdown and uncertainty is the threat of new taxes on those
very same homes.
Voters know our state's
budget deficit continues to grow. We also know that every time the budget is
"balanced" another option is removed between us taxpayers and a
possible tax increase.
By voting YES on
Proposition 100, we will ensure that politicians can't balance the budget
through a real estate transfer tax on our homes.
Passing Proposition 100
will support the value of our homes and promote the recovery of the depressed
housing market in Arizona.
A recovering housing
market with increase home values meaning a stronger economy and more jobs.
A YES vote on Proposition 100 Protects Our Homes and
Promotes a Strong Economic Recovery.
The Arizona Contractors
Association (ACA) is a non-profit 501(c)6 business
trade organization that has been in existence for over 50 years. ACA is
strictly a state association whose membership consists of residential and
commercial general contractors, subcontractors of various trades, material
suppliers, developers, architects and engineers. Our mission is to provide corporate,
political and civic leadership in the Arizona
construction industry for the benefit of our companies, employees and
communities.
Brett A. Jones, Vice President of Operations, Arizona Contractors Association, Phoenix
Jeffery M. Hall, General Counsel & Director,
Arizona Contractors Association, Phoenix
Paid for by "Arizona Contractors
Association”
Arizona Cattlemen's Association
Letter in Support of Proposition 100; the Protect Our
Homes Initiative
The Arizona Cattlemen's
Association (ACA) supports a YES vote on Proposition 100. Arizona's
ranch and beef producing families care for thousands of acres of open space in Arizona. Arizona's ranch and beef
producing families already pay property and death taxes on these precious
lands. We urge voters to vote YES on Proposition 100 to stop bureaucrats from
confiscating even more of the value of our ranches, farms and homes. By voting
YES voters will stop government from imposing an additional real estate sales
tax on our lands. A YES vote will help us continue to produce the most
affordable food supply in the world. Vote YES on Proposition 100.
Tom Chilton, President, Arizona
Cattle Growers' (ACGA) Association, Phoenix
Scott Schill,
President, Arizona Cattle Feeders' (ACFA)
Association, Phoenix
Paid for by "Arizona Cattlemen's
Association"
Steve Pierce Letter in Support of Proposition 100; the Protect Our Homes Initiative
As a life long steward
of ranch lands in Arizona
I enthusiastically endorse Proposition 100. My family has received conservation
awards for going above and beyond to protect the land and wildlife. My family
already pays property taxes each and every year on our ranch. We are also asked
to pay the death tax when the ranch is passed on from one generation to the
next. Why should my family have to pay an additional real estate sales tax when
we transfer or sell these beautiful ranch lands to the next generation? A real
estate transfer tax would be a tax on open space. Let's stop real estate
transfer taxes. Vote YES on Proposition 100.
Steve Pierce, Prescott
Paid for by "Arizona Cattlemen's Association"
As a former Governor of Arizona
and lifelong advocate of the citizens of Arizona,
I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative. A real estate sales or
transfer tax will make it even more difficult to buy and sell our homes or
property by raising closing costs. Further, it will drastically harm
opportunities for affordable housing in Arizona,
which is a crucial component in sustaining our communities. Arizonans deserve
the opportunity to purchase a home without being penalized with a form of
double taxation. This is not good for families and it is not good for the
economy. By voting YES, I am making a clear and conscious decision to support
the citizens of this state who currently own, or hope to someday own, a home or
start a business in the Valley of the Sun, along our borders, or in our
historical neighborhoods across the state. Without any foreseeable benefits to
families and businesses, a real estate sales or transfer tax will impede on the
ability to maintain a healthy and strong Arizona,
and that is why voting YES is so vital to the success of our community. Vote
YES with me to Protect Our Homes, our families, our businesses, and our
communities here in Arizona.
Rose Mofford, Former
Governor of Arizona, Phoenix
Paid for by "Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of C-18-2008”
As an Arizonan, a homeowner, and a member of a
family-owned company whose presence in Arizona
has endured since 1932, I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative. Affordable
housing for Bashas' members, my family, and the
community at large is a vital part of maintaining healthy, sustainable growth
here in Arizona.
Simply, a real estate sales or transfer tax is not the solution for affordable
housing nor does it benefit local businesses who own property. A real estate
sales or transfer tax will not only hinder the ability of fixed and low income
families to purchase homes, but it will also hurt local businesses in their
real estate and property transactions. By voting YES on Protect Our Homes, we
will ensure that more Arizonans have the ability to purchase homes and property
without the negative effects of double taxation. Arizona is a place where families have had,
and should continue to have, the opportunity to create generations of
homeowners and family owned businesses. This is the Arizona
I know and love, the Arizona that provided my
family with the opportunity for success and growth, and this is the Arizona I hope we want
to preserve for future generations. A real estate sales or transfer tax, in my
opinion, does not preserve the Arizona
way of life; that is why I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to
protect our families from a real estate sales or
transfer tax.
I earnestly solicit your
support on behalf of this proposition.
Eddie Basha, Chandler
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
As a former Chairman of the Tucson Metropolitan
Chamber of Commerce and Member and President of the Arizona Board of Regents,
and as a founding Member and Director of Southern Arizona
Leadership Council, I understand the dynamics of the Arizona economy, business and the greater
community. I personally urge the voters of Arizona to vote YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative. A YES vote will have the effect of protecting all Arizonans
from the harmful effects of a real estate sales or transfer tax. Such a tax is
unnecessary since all Arizona
homeowners and businesses already pay annual property taxes. An additional tax
in the form of a real estate sales or transfer tax would be double taxation.
This type of tax is just wrong, and is not good for our economy, our businesses
or our families. It would place an additional and unneeded burden that would
make it difficult for both our businesses and families to flourish in this
already slow economy. This hurts everyone in Arizona. I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to keep Arizona business and families strong and
protect our community against the damaging effects of a real
estate sales or transfer tax.
John F. Munger, Munger
Chadwick, P.L.C., Tucson
Paid for by "Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of C-18-2008”
As a member of the Arizona Senate and the Chairman of the Commerce
and Economic Development Committee, I enthusiastically endorse proposition 100,
the Protect Our Homes Initiative. Protecting Arizonans from the negative
effects of a real estate sales or transfer tax is necessary in order to ensure
our economy remains strong. Additional taxation will cause great harm to our
economy by making it more expensive to purchase or sell a home or business.
This tax will discourage economic development by punishing investment in new
business locations at a time when Arizona
needs to attract new jobs to our community. New taxes would put Arizona at a competitive
disadvantage while competing for those high paying jobs every state wants to
attract. Making it more expensive to buy and sell homes would also add to the
crisis we are experiencing in the housing market. Arizona's economy is already hurting as a
result of a weak housing market. Any additional taxes would make its recovery
much more difficult.
Voting "yes"
on the Protect our homes initiative will ensure that new taxes cannot be
imposed by the State or local governments. It is one of the most important
votes you will be casting this November. The Protect our Homes initiative will
protect our homes, our jobs and our economy.
Please join me in voting
yes on Proposition 100.
Barbara Leff, State
Senator, Legislative District 11, Paradise
Valley
Paid for by "Protect Our Homes (AAR) In
Support of C-18-2008"
Voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative
will keep both families and businesses strong in Arizona. As a member of the Arizona State
Senate and a fourteen year member of the tax writing committee, I understand
the importance of sound tax policy for Arizona's
economy. The real estate sales or transfer tax is not good tax policy for our
state. We already pay annual taxes on our homes and property, so an additional
tax would simply burden families and businesses during a time of economic
uncertainty. A real estate transfer tax could damage affordable housing
opportunities for struggling families living on a low or fix income. We should
not be stifling economic growth and making it harder for families and
businesses to succeed with an unfair tax that makes no sense for our economy or
community. A real estate sales or transfer tax is bad fiscal policy and will do
nothing to encourage growth and sustainability in Arizona. I am voting YES on the Protect Our
Homes Initiative to make sure we stop this tax before it starts.
Ken Cheuvront, State
Senator, Legislative District 15, Phoenix
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008”
Please vote YES on Proposition 100. The Protect
Our Homes Initiative protects families, homeowners and businesses from a tax
increase. Real estate sales or transfer taxes make no sense for Arizonans or
our economy. A real estate sales or transfer tax would be collected when you
buy, sell or even transfer ownership of your home or property into a legal
trust or to a family member. Since every home and business owner already pays
annual property taxes, a transfer tax is a form of double taxation. Why would
we make it harder and more expensive to buy a home at a time when our housing
market is already struggling? As a state senator, I know that enacting such a
tax would be poor fiscal policy and bad for Arizona, and that is why I am voting YES on
proposition 100 in order to permanently protect our family and economy from the
damaging effects of a real estate sales or transfer
tax.
Jim Waring, State
Senator, Legislative District 7, Phoenix
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008
As a member of the Arizona House of
Representatives, I am Voting YES on Proposition 100, to support the Protect Our
Homes Initiative which is to protect Arizona
home owners and businesses, both big and small, from a real
estate sales or transfer tax. A real estate sales or transfer tax would
place an additional tax burden on homes or businesses, especially small and
family-owned businesses. Since all home owners and businesses already pay
annual property taxes, an additional tax would be a form of double taxation -
something that is unnecessary and wrong. The last thing we need in this current
economy is to stifle business growth and job creation in Arizona. The state should not balance their
budgets on the back of hardworking Arizonans who work tirelessly to provide for
their families and their future and in turn stimulate our economy. I am voting
YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to protect Arizona and I urge you to do the same.
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John Nelson, State
Representative, Legislative District 12, Litchfield Park
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Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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As a retired Major General with the Arizona
National Guard I understand the importance of affordable housing in Arizona - especially for
our veterans and military personnel. I know the difficulties many of our
veterans and military personnel face trying to get settled in a new life and a
new career. A real estate sales or transfer tax would make it that much harder
to start that life on the right foot by decreasing affordable housing
opportunities and making it more difficult to buy and sell homes in Arizona. Further, such a
tax would not only affect our veteran community and military personnel, but it
would also affect the most vulnerable populations in our state. Home ownership
is synonymous with the American Dream. We should be doing everything we can to help
everyone attain that dream instead of building barriers against it. I am voting
YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to ensure that Arizona and our veteran community are
protected from a real estate transfer tax.
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Donald L. Owens,
Former Adjutant General for Arizona
National Guard, Fountain Hills
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Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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As a former State Senator and a proud Arizonan,
I wholeheartedly endorse the Protect Our Homes Initiative. Protecting Arizonans
from the negative effects of a real estates sales or transfer tax is imperative
to keeping our state's economy strong, encouraging the growth of business, and
helping individuals and families achieve their dream of homeownership. Everyone
in Arizona -
both individuals and businesses - already pay annual taxes on their home or
property, so adding an additional tax is burdensome and equates to double
taxation. Further, a real estate sales or transfer tax would damage the equity
that people have worked hard to build in their home or business. It is a lose-lose situation no matter how you look at it. A real
estate sales or transfer tax is bad for you, your family, the economy, and Arizona. I am voting YES
on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to protect our present and future from a
real estate sales or transfer tax.
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Thomas Patterson, Paradise Valley
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Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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Voting YES on Proposition 100, Protect Our Homes, will keep the Arizona
economy and community healthy and strong by protecting our citizens from the
damaging effects of a real estate sales or transfer tax. As the former mayor of
Phoenix, I
believe that an additional tax on our homes and property is bad for both
business and our families. We need to have fiscal policies that allow our
businesses to grow and keep housing affordable to protect those living on a
fixed or low income. Since both businesses and homeowners already pay annual
property taxes, a real estate sales or transfer tax is a form of double
taxation and makes no fiscal sense. Such a tax does nothing but adds an
unnecessary burden and damages the equity that businesses and homeowners have
worked hard to build. I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative and I
encourage all Arizonans to do the same.
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Paul Johnson, Phoenix
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Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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As a member of the Arizona Housing Finance
Authority, I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to ensure that a
real estate sales or transfer tax never becomes a reality in Arizona. Having been a professional in the
housing market for 37 years, I firmly believe that a real estate sales or
transfer tax is not the type of tax policy we need for a healthy economy or
community in Arizona.
This tax would dramatically increase the cost of buying and selling a home,
negatively impacting families living on a low or fixed income. Hurting our
already limited affordable housing opportunities and disqualifying people from
homeownership does not help to build cohesive, thriving communities and does
nothing to boost our economy. Further, for those who already own a home, a real
estate sales or transfer tax would greatly damage the equity they have spent a
lifetime building, which can have drastic effects on retirement and savings.
Lastly, protecting Arizonans from a real estate sales or transfer tax will
allow homeowners to continue to transfer ownership of their home or property
into a legal trust or to another family member without being penalized with a
tax. Vote YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative to keep fairness in Arizona's tax policies
and help keep our community strong.
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Arthur Crozier, ABR, CRS, GRI, Pinetop
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Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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As a school board member I know the financial limits
teacher's face in our inflationary economy. Many teachers, and others, will
find it difficult to ever afford a home if what amounts to a sales tax is put
on home sales. A tax on the American dream is just wrong. A "YES"
vote will prevent this tax from being imposed on the people of Arizona. Stop the growth
of taxes, fees, and charges. Vote "YES" to Protect Our Homes!
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Kimberly Owens,
Avondale
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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As a teacher, I am voting YES on the Protect Our
Homes Initiative to guard our education system by protecting teachers, students
and Arizonan families from a real estate sales or transfer tax. A real estate
sales or transfer tax would greatly affect affordable housing opportunities in
our communities, making it harder to attract the best quality teachers to come
live and work in Arizona.
Additionally, our education system already suffers from insufficient funding.
In fact, Arizona
is currently ranked 49 out of 50 states in funding per student. Since money for
public schools comes, in large part, from property taxes, the extreme
underfunding of our schools is a result of the lagging economy and more
importantly the slow real estate market. Imposing a real estate sales or
transfer tax in Arizona
ensures that an even smaller number of people will be able to afford to
purchase new homes, and therefore decreases the total amount of sales in the
real estate market. Such a tax could have a dramatic affect on the amount of
money the Arizona
public school system receives. I support Arizona's
public education system and that's why I support the Protect Our Homes
Initiative.
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Nicholas Lodato, Phoenix
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes
Initiative to protect my home and yours from a real estate transfer tax. A home
is often the biggest and most important asset a person has in their lifetime -
and it runs synonymous with the American Dream. A real estate transfer tax
would be a dangerous threat to that dream. Because we already pay multiple
taxes and fees on our homes, a real estate transfer tax would further burden us
by adding on one more significant cost we will have to pay at closing- it is
double taxation! In this depressed economy, the double taxation of Arizona's citizens would
make it even harder for people and families to buy and sell their homes by
increasing costs. Families should be afforded the opportunity to own a home and
build equity in their homes - to invest in their American dream - rather than
forcing them to hand over their hard work to government and give up on that
dream.
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Carla R. Bowen,
Pinetop
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
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I am Voting YES on proposition 100, the Protect
Our Homes Initiative, to say no to a real estate sales
or transfer tax in Arizona
to ensure that we have affordable housing for those living on a low or fixed
income. Protecting Arizonans from the harmful effects of a real estate sales or
transfer tax will shield the most vulnerable members of our community. In our
current economy, this is not the time to add burdens to those already
struggling to survive. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arizona's average per person income grew by the smallest
percentage in the United
States in 2007. Further, according to the
Department of Commerce, Arizona
lost 26,000 manufacturing jobs and 23,700 construction-related jobs in the 12
months through February 2008. These statistics do not paint a pretty picture.
As a community and as a state, we need to ensure that we are doing everything
possible to help lower income Arizonans succeed - including keeping housing
affordable. By increasing housing costs, a real estate sales or transfer tax
would disproportionally affect lower income Arizonans and make it next to
impossible for them to own a first home or buy or sell a home in this harsh
market. That is not something I am willing to accept and that is why I am
voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative.
|
Jose Rivero, Peoria
Paid for by "Protect
Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes
Initiative in order to ban real estate transfer taxes in Arizona. While we currently do not have a
real estate transfer tax it is important to be proactive to stop such a tax
before it starts. With the national real estate tax average ranging from .1
percent to 2.2 percent of closing costs, a real estate transfer tax in Arizona
could add anywhere from $1,000-$20,000 on to the closing costs of your home! In
this slow market a real estate transfer tax would prohibit many first-time
homebuyers, families, and those on a fixed income from buying a home. This
hurts both sellers AND buyers and is bad for Arizona.
|
Melissa L. Clayton, Sierra Vista
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes
Initiative because the last thing we need in Arizona is an additional tax burden. The
Protect Our Homes Initiative will protect Arizonans from a real estate transfer
tax - a tax that would be collected when you buy, sell or transfer ownership of
your home, land or commercial real estate. Our economy is burdened enough;
adding another tax on homeowners - especially when we already pay multiple
taxes and fees on our homes is irresponsible and will have a devastating affect
on the Arizona
community and economy. According to the US Bureau of Economic Analysis, Arizona's average per person income grew by the smallest
percentage in the US
in 2007. Further, according to the Department of Commerce, Arizona lost 26,000 manufacturing jobs and
23,700 construction-related jobs in the 12 months through February according to
the Department of Commerce. This is not an economy that needs an additional tax
that would make it harder to buy or sell your home. Rather, we should be making
it easier for families, first time homebuyers, and those with lower incomes to
achieve homeownership and build equity by ensuring that they will never have to
fact the burden of a real estate transfer tax.
|
Robert Zazueta, Sierra
Vista
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes
Initiative to ensure that everyone in Arizona - from families, to first time
homebuyers, to seniors are able to afford and build equity in their homes and
property. A real estate transfer tax is collected when you sell or transfer
ownership of your home, land or commercial real estate. By banning real estate
transfer taxes, we protect Arizonans against its harmful effects and making it
possible for everyone to enjoy the benefits of homeownership. In the already
slowing market, a real estate transfer tax would make it more difficult to buy
or sell homes or property by increasing the costs to those buying and selling
homes or property. A real estate transfer tax will make our already costly
homes even more expensive. It will affect individuals living on a fixed or low
income the most as higher closing costs effectively price many people out of
the housing market.
|
Margie O'Campo Castillo, Phoenix
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Voting YES on Protect Our Homes is crucial to
prevent the double taxation of our home, land and/or commercial real estate
through real estate transfer taxes. Taxing our home sales would be excessive
and unfair. The fact is that all home and properties are already aggressively
taxed through annual property taxes. Placing an additional tax at the time of
sale or transfer means that homebuyers or sellers are taxed a second time. This
unfair real estate transfer tax is an additional tax that will cut into your
retirement pension and savings, and damage the equity you spent a lifetime
building. With homeowners' equity at a 50-year low, according to the latest
Federal Reserve Bank report, a real estate transfer tax is the last thing
Arizonans need. This is why, I am voting YES on the Protect Our Homes
Initiative to end real estate transfer taxes before they start and I urge you
to do the same.
|
Cliff Potts, Payson
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative
is essential in protecting Arizona
families and home owners. Under the current economy, the foreclosure rates in
the Arizona
are among the highest in the nation, contributing to a hurting economy. The
real estate transfer tax in most states is exempt during foreclosure. Since
Arizona has such a high foreclosure rate, the state would not bring in
additional revenue from homes foreclosed upon, thereby imposing a penalty tax
to law abiding citizens that paid mortgages for selling their homes. The real
estate transfer tax unfairly imposes a burden upon citizens in Arizona because in the
current economy, the majority of property transfers in the state are due to
foreclosure and not a typical sale.
|
Susan L. Abdallah, Casa Grande
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative
is imperative to protecting Arizona
from real estate transfer taxes. Because a real estate transfer tax is
collected at closing, it would place a detrimental burden on the lower income
that typically spends a larger percentage of their income on their home. Under
the slow economy and bad housing market, lenders have labeled much of Maricopa County as a "declining
market", meaning buyers must put down an additional 5 percent to their
down payment in cash. It will not be long before this trend spread and affects
the rest of Arizona.
Coming up with several tens of thousands of dollars for a down payment is not
feasible for many people, especially since most have little or no equity in
their current homes. Adding on an extra closing cost through a real estate
transfer tax, prices out many young families and potential first time
homeowners from the housing market. With a significant decrease in the number
of first time buyers, the demand for home buying will decrease in already
ailing market, ensuring that the Arizona
economy will further plummet.
|
Gary T. Best, Tucson
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative
protects your constitutional right to maintain your property. The real estate
transfer tax destroys your property rights. As a homeowner, you paid your
property taxes and paid the value of your home, thereby making your home your
property as protected by the United States Constitution. Under your fundamental
property right, you possess the rights to use or sell your home as you choose.
The real estate transfer tax gives your property rights to the Government to
make more money off of your property and assets, making you pay the bill. That
is why I support the Protect Our Homes Initiative.
|
Delores Manwar, Scottsdale
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative
will protect you from the damaging effects of a real estate transfer tax and
will protect the equity you have worked hard to build in your home. A real
estate transfer tax is a state or local government imposed tax this is collected
when you sell or transfer ownership of your home, land or commercial real
estate - they would even apply to the transfer of your home or property into a
legal trust. The additional tax on your home is double taxation! All homes and
properties are already taxed through annual property taxes. Whether you are a
first time homebuyer, a middle-income family, or a senior on a fixed income, an
additional tax at the time of sale or transfer, guarantees homebuyers are taxed
second time which is unfair and hurts everyone.
|
Holly Mabery, Cornville
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative
protects our senior citizens and their assets. The real estate transfer tax
will work to prohibit Arizona's
seniors from life-long commitments and trusts to transfer property to family
member. The real estate transfer tax imposes a penalty upon our seniors and
their families left behind by imposing a double tax on property when
transferred within the family. Our State's most valued and respected citizens
should not be penalized for their contributions to the state by unfairly
imposing a tax on their property remaining within the same family ownership. I
support Arizona's
seniors and that's why I support the Protect Our Homes Initiative.
|
Kenneth Motta, Yuma
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative
will protect ALL Arizonans from the damaging effects of a real estate transfer
tax. A real estate transfer tax is collected when you buy, sell or transfer
your home, land or property. This additional cost would be a great detriment to
the Arizona economy as it would further burden
an already slow housing market and hurt Arizona's
business. Migration to Arizona
from other states decline 34 percent last year. The Blue Chip report attributed
the decline in migration to Arizona
and other states to difficulty selling homes - something that would be further
damaged by a real estate transfer tax, which would add additional closing
costs. Further, according to Arizona
State University's
Realty Students Department, valley-wide, sales of existing homes fell 24
percent last year - the lowest level of activity since 1997. This is bad for
families and business. We must act now to do what we can to maintain home
affordability and help our families and businesses grow and flourish. That is
why I am doing my part by voting YES on the Protect Our Homes Initiative.
|
Tina Totty, Rio Rico
Paid for by
"Protect Our Homes (AAR) In Support of
C-18-2008"
|
Arguments
"Against" Proposition 100
Argument Against PROP
100
No New Home Tax
Arizona is facing a new reality, one that
includes fast-paced growth and a drastic need to expand infrastructure for
millions of new residents. The state of Arizona
will grow to more than 18 million, from its current population of 6 million,
over the next 30 years. No New Home Tax, or PROP 100, is an attempt to tie the
hands of Arizona's elected officials as they
determine the best way to grow Arizona
into the future.
It is clear that Arizona is too reliant
on taxes that do not produce consistent revenue in tough economic times. The
current down turn in the economy has caused the state a $2.2 billion deficit,
and Arizona
does not have a viable solution. PROP 100 will change the constitution of Arizona
to protect real estate corporations and developers. Changing our constitution
to protect wealthy special interests will cripple our state's ability to
support the needs of a growing state.
The Arizona Education
Association opposes this initiative because it will have long-term damaging
effects on public education. A vote in opposition is a step toward a stronger
economy and high-quality services, including great public schools and
universities, quality transportation, and health care needed in the 21st
century knowledge-based economy, and funded by a sound and equitable system of
taxation. Support means that we fall farther behind our development goals,
dragged down by deteriorating services and poor amenities funded by a revenue
system that is characterized by inequitable taxes and structural deficits
extending far into the future. The Arizona Education Association requests that
you vote NO on PROP 100.
John Wright, President, Arizona
Education Association, Phoenix
Andrew Morrill, Vice-President, Arizona Education Association, Phoenix
Paid for by "Arizona Education
Association"
ARGUMENT AGAINST C-18-2008:
Vote NO!
At the State of Arizona level, there is no such tax-revenue source, and
any new tax-revenue source requires a super-majority of two-thirds vote by each
Arizona
legislative house and the Governor's signature. If the Governor vetoes any new
tax-revenue bill, then the Legislature must muster a three-quarters vote in
each Arizona
legislative house to override the veto to enact the new tax-revenue law.
At the County-City-Local
levels, which are the closest form of representative government that we have,
these local representatives should not have their
hands tied if future conditions require that all sources of revenue are
available. Local officials feel the heat of being ousted from office when they
infuriate the voters.
This proposal says,
"Let's bind society's hands more, and put off-limits a potential revenue
quill in our social contract quiver. Even if desperately needed, we will keep
it off-limits."
Vote NO!
In the 1970's, the State
of Arizona
revenue sources were relatively diversified with about 30 percent sales taxes,
30 percent income taxes, 30 percent federal transfer funds, and about 10
percent from everything else. Because of tax cuts for businesses and the
wealthy during the 1990s through today, Arizona's
revenues are non-diversified: 50 percent sales tax, 30 percent income tax, and
20 percent federal transfers
Why are Arizona's revenue
finances in horrible shape? We are dependent on the cyclical sales tax. Arizona's social
contract with its citizens can only be carried out by its representatives when
government has a variety of tax sources and responsible spending.
This proposal stomps on
social equity and social justice by shifting the cost of government from
businesses and the wealthy to middle and low income citizens. We should all
shoulder our share!
Vote NO!
|
Bradley K. Vandermark, Phoenix
|
Ballot Format
Proposition
100
Proposed Amendment to the Constitution
By the Initiative
Relating to Real Property
OFFICIAL TITLE
PROPOSING AN AMENDMENT
TO ARTICLE IX OF THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION BY
ADDING A NEW SECTION 24 RELATING TO A PROHIBITION OF ANY NEW REAL PROPERTY SALE OR TRANSFER TAX IN ARIZONA.
DESCRIPTIVE TITLE
PROHIBITS STATE, COUNTY, CITY, TOWN, MUNICIPAL OR OTHER STATE POLITICAL SUBDIVISION FROM
IMPOSING ANY NEW TAX, FEE, OR OTHER ASSESSMENT ON THE SALE, PURCHASE, TRANSFER, OR OTHER CONVEYANCE
OF ANY INTEREST IN REAL ESTATE AFTER DECEMBER 31, 2007.
A "yes" vote shall have the effect of
prohibiting any new tax, fee, or other assessment on the sale, purchase or
other conveyance of real estate after December 31, 2007. Yes
A "no" vote shall have the effect of retaining the
current law, which allows taxes on the sale or transfer of real estate. No
The Ballot Format displayed in HTML reflects
only the text of the Ballot Proposition and does not reflect how it will appear
on the General Election Ballot.
Spelling, grammar, and punctuation were reproduced as submitted in the
"for" and "against" arguments.