Ballot Measures

[QED]

I actually cracked the cover of the GE Publicity Pamphlet. Now I understand how the ballot measures are numbered.

100 - Constitutional amendments

200 - Citizen initiatives

300 - Legislative referrals

400 - Local issues

It looks like there are only two statewide ballot measures this election - 207 and 208.

[QED]

1. Prop 207 - "The Safe and Smart Act" (Marijuana)

From the sample ballot:

"Proposed by initiative petition relating to the responsible adult use, regulation, and taxation of marijuana."

Descriptive title:
The law would allow limited marijuana possession, use, and cultivation by adults 21 or older; amend criminal penalties for marijuana possession; ban smoking marijuana in public; impose a 16% excise tax on marijuana sales to fund public programs; authorize state/local regulation of marijuana licensees; and allow expungement of marijuana offenses.

A “YES” vote shall have the effect of allowing adults 21 years or older to use, possess, or transfer up to one ounce of marijuana and cultivate for personal use not more than six marijuana plants at a primary residence; banning smoking marijuana in public places and open spaces; amending criminal classifications and penalties for marijuana possession and use; allowing the retail sale of marijuana at licensed establishments; imposing a 16% excise tax on marijuana sales to fund community colleges, infrastructure, public safety, and public health programs; authorizing state and local regulation of the sale and production of marijuana by a capped number of licensees; and allowing courts to vacate and expunge certain marijuana arrests, charges, adjudications, convictions, or sentences.

A “NO” vote shall have the effect of retaining current law regarding the use of marijuana.



on edit: to add additional information

[QED]

2. Prop 208 - "Invest in Education Act"

Proposed by initiative petition related to education funding.

Descriptive title:
The law would impose a 3.5% tax surcharge on taxable annual income over $250,000 for single persons or married persons filing separately, or $500,000 for married persons filing jointly or heads of households, to increase funding for public education.

A “YES” vote shall have the effect of imposing a 3.5% income tax surcharge, in addition to existing income tax rates, on taxable annual income over $250,000 for single persons or married persons filing separately, or $500,000 for married persons filing jointly or heads of households, to provide additional funds for public education; creating a new fund to direct the additional revenue to hiring and increasing salaries for teachers and other non-administrative support personnel, career training and higher education pathway programs for high school students, and the Arizona Teachers Academy; and increasing the dollar amount of scholarships available through the Arizona Teachers Academy.

A “NO” vote shall have the effect of retaining existing law on income tax rates and funding for public education.


Certification and text:
https://apps.arizona.vote/electioninfo/assets/18/0/BallotMeasures/I-31-2020%20Certification%20&%20Text.pdf

[Ptah]

3. Smoke pot, tax the rich!

[QED]

6. Excellent summary!

[QED]

4. Maricopa County - Prop 449

This is for the Maricopa County Special Health Care District

This November, voters will have a chance to vote on a Proposition to authorize the continuation of a secondary property tax levy for the benefit of the Maricopa County Special Health Care District – which includes the public teaching hospital, the Arizona Burn Center, three behavioral health hospitals and 12 family health centers -- for twenty years. The tax will expire in August 2025 without voter approval prior to that date.

A “YES” vote will have the effect of continuation of the levy of a secondary property tax for the benefit of the Maricopa County Special Health Care District – which includes the public teaching hospital, the Arizona Burn Center, three behavioral health hospitals and 12 family health centers -- for a period not to exceed twenty years, which tax is estimated at $38 per year on a home assessed at $200,000.

A “NO” vote will have the effect of not approving the continuation of the levy of a secondary property tax for the benefit of the Maricopa County Special Health Care District, which tax will expire without voter approval before August 2025.

https://yesforvalleywise.com/prop-449-faqs

[QED]

5. More on Valleywise

Maricopa County voters are being asked to continue the property tax levy for the Maricopa County Special Health Care District. The assessment is due to expire in 2024 when its 20-year life span comes to its conclusion.

The tax levy represents about 12% of the District’s revenue which is approximately $81.9M and is crucial to maintaining Valleywise Health's mission.

Valleywise Health (formerly known as Maricopa Integrated Health System) is Arizona’s only public teaching health system and serves the needs of anyone who comes through its doors. Its mission is to “provide exceptional care, without exception, to every patient, every time.”

More than 65% of Valleywise patients are uninsured, underinsured, or covered by AHCCCS, Arizona’s Medicaid program, or Federal Emergency Services. Annually, Valleywise serves nearly 400,000 patients with its staff of nearly 3,700 medical and healthcare professionals.

http://www.azpha.org/wills-blog/2020/9/23/azpha-recommends-anbspyesnbspvote-on-proposition-449