Arizona Star Net
The City Council warned Tuesday that it will need to ask voters for massive tax increases if a ballot initiative mandating much higher police and fire staffing levels is approved by voters in November. Police and fire union officials warned the council that any move to put a competing initiative or a tax increase to pay for the extra officers on the same November ballot would show bad faith toward the city’s police and firefighters ”” and indicate council members oppose those groups.
Legislators took the first step Monday toward overhauling city elections in Tucson ”” changes previously rejected by the city’s own voters. With only one lawmaker in opposition, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved a bill that would erase party affiliation from city elections. Also, if HB 1123 becomes law, it would abolish Tucson’s longtime system in which its council members are nominated by ward but are elected citywide.