PHOENIX โ The question of whether San Tan Valley residents get a chance to incorporate is now in the hands of Gov. Doug Ducey.
On a 28-1 margin, the state Senate on Thursday gave final approval to legislation which removes the ability of Florence and Apache Junction to veto an incorporation vote. Only Sen. Lisa Otondo, D-Yuma, voted against the measure.
The House had voted 40-20 last week to approve HB 2088.
There was no immediate response from the governor on what he might do with the measure.
Even if Ducey signs it, that does not guarantee there will be a new town in northeast Pinal County. Backers will still have to get the support of at least half the people who show up at the polls to decide the issue.
The measure is aimed at a provision in state law that appears limited to Pinal County.
It gives existing cities of up to 5,000 a โplanning areaโ that extends three miles beyond its current boundaries. It lets the existing city veto any new incorporations within that area.
For larger cities, that veto right extends out six miles.
The issue here is that a proposal to incorporate San Tan Valley sketches out a map that comes within the planning areas of Florence. And, to date, Florence has failed to give its permission.
HB 2088 creates an exception to that veto right if the area to be incorporated has at least 15,000 people and the city objecting is smaller.
That clearly applies to San Tan Valley with an estimated population of about 110,000, depending on how the map is drawn. Florence has a population of 26,000.
Foes of the legislation argued that it was not needed. They said the lines for a new town could be drawn so they do not come within six miles of Florence.
