Pima County seeks voter approval to raise base expenditure limit

Pima County is asking voters to approve Proposition 425 to raise its base expenditure limit, a cap set in 1980 that determines how much the county can spend annually. The county estimates the requested increase is closer to $610 million when adjusted for inflation and population growth from 1980. Opposition to the measure has been voiced by campaign co-chair Jay Tolkoff, who stated the requested amount is extremely large.

The expenditure limit is written into the Arizona Constitution, and the county faces penalties for exceeding it. Pima County District 1 Supervisor Rex Scott stated that the current limit has not kept pace with modern budgets, projecting that the county will bump up against the limit in the next two to three years.