November 5, 2013 / Modified nov 6, 2013 8:32 a.m.

Tucson Voters Pass Increase to City Budget Limit

City can now spend $50M more than currently allowed if revenues are available, thanks to the support of 62 percent.

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The city can spend $50 million more than currently allowed if revenues are available, thanks to the support of 62 percent of Tucson voters.

Mayor Jonathan Rothschild said Proposition 401 will allow the city to expand in the future.

“(It) doesn’t ever raise taxes, it just gives us the capacity as the city grows to be able to spend money that we would otherwise have to provide services, not to send that money back to Phoenix," Rothschild said.

Pima County Republican Party Chairwoman Carolyn Cox said she has concerns about the increase.

“See I don’t understand that," Cox said. "We have a billion dollar unfunded liability of the public pensions, we have roads that have not been repaired, and I just don’t understand why they’re out looking to spend more money about anything.”

The last time the city successfully got an increase in the spending limit was in 1987 when voters raised the annual limit by $46.9 million.

Kayla Samoy is a University of Arizona journalism student and apprentice at Arizona Public Media.

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