Pima County Supervisors Tuesday approved a $1.2 billion budget that raises property taxes about $20 a year for the average homeowner, to pay for $100 million in street maintenance over the next five years.
The board was sharply divided over a companion proposal to create a 13-member Transportation Advisory Committee to help decide where the road improvement money goes. Supervisor Steve Christy opposed the new panel, saying supervisors themselves should make the spending choices:
“The supervisors have the best knowledge, feel and handle for the issues of the roads in their district.” Christy said. “They're the closest ones to the problems. They're the closest ones to the constituents.”
Supervisor Richard Elias says letting citizens advise the board would help insure that decisions were based on need, not political influence.
“We're far beyond those days where decisions were made by one patron in your district or, you know, one single individual who sits there and can make those decisions on their own.” Elias said.
The Transportation Advisory Committee was approved on a three-to-two vote, with Christy and Supervisor Ally Miller voting no. The board approved the overall budget by the same margin.
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