Two state lawmakers call for rejection of Tucson's Prop. 414

Two Democrat state lawmakers on Tuesday came out in opposition to Tucson’s Proposition 414, a half-cent sales tax ballot measure that is up for a vote in March.

Rep. Alma Hernandez, who represents westside Legislative District 20, said at a news conference downtown that the city’s proposal to raise the sales tax to 9.2% is a “lousy deal” for everyday Tucsonans. If passed, she said, the higher tax rate would impact “the poorest of our communities” to fund things that should already be a priority for the city, like public safety.

“It’s a shame that our city has only invested about 30%, when we talk about public safety, and now we’re using public safety as the reason to pass this tax increase. That, to me, is unacceptable,” she said.

“At the end of the day, I believe — and so do my constituents — that after this election, we have to be as Democrats more serious when it comes to our priorities. I think the message was clear in this last election that the voters want to be able to figure out what we as elected officials will do for them to ensure that their families have the resources that they need,” Hernandez said. “I am not okay with putting just another tax on the folks here in our communities, because at the end of the day, that is not the real solution, and we cannot afford to let Tucson get the honor of being the highest-taxed city in the entire of state of Arizona.”

Prop. 414, dubbed the “Safe & Vibrant City” ballot measure, is up for a vote on March 11. It is expected to raise about $800 million by adding 0.5% to the city’s sales tax over the next 10 years, according to the city. The current sales tax rate in Tucson is 8.7%.

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The proposition is split into five different areas, deemed “quality-of-life” categories. The biggest slice of the pie will go to first responders, namely the city’s police and fire departments. Affordable housing and shelter efforts would receive about 18% of the annual revenue. Investments in neighborhoods, youth and anti-crime efforts would account for about 17% of the revenue collected.

Consuelo Hernandez, who represents the south-side Legislative District 21 and is a sibling, said Prop. 414 is not the solution to making Tucson families’ lives easier.

“We as Democrats should be prioritizing working families, and making life more costly for working families is not something that we should be supporting,” she said Tuesday. “Shame on the city for not prioritizing their budget to make sure that they can pay for public safety.”

“It should not be on the backs everyday working-class people, when at the national level, we don’t know what the next for years are going to look like. We are already hearing that the tariffs are going to increase the everyday cost of living for folks who are buying items, we should not add to that stress,” Consuelo Hernandez said.

Former state lawmaker and sibling Daniel Hernandez joined Ted Maxwell, president and CEO of the Southern Arizona Leadership Council, in opposing Prop. 414 at Tuesday’s news conference.