GOVERNMENT
supermajority threshold needed for passage by 2½ points. It didn’t pass, even though a majority of voters backed it. Coming at it from a different angle Pinal Regional Transportation Authority’s board of directors suspended operations of the 9-year-old agency late last year with one director saying, “There is no viable path forward for construction of highway projects.” Board members represented by mayors and city councilmembers from around Pinal County took the action during a special meeting in November. “After considering all options, I concluded that using the PRTA framework to improve State Route 347 or to develop a broader transportation plan is no longer feasible,” said Maricopa City Councilman Vincent Manfredi, who had been a PRTA board member or alternate since 2016. “Still, I am fully committed to finding solutions for the much-needed improvements on SR 347.” Between 2017 and 2021, funds were collected under the PRTA ballot-prop plan. However, after the Arizona Supreme Court ruling, the authority abandoned the plan and sought to formulate a new one. After Maricopa County voters easily passed a ballot proposition Nov. 5 allocating funds for
voters decisively rejected a half-penny sales tax in March, are required to put tax hikes on the ballot. In Maricopa, “there is no need to go to the voters to implement or increase a sales tax rate,” said Stielow, the tax researcher. “It’s state law.” A ‘bold step’ forward In February, the city took the PRTA’s advice to heart and proposed the half-penny sales tax that is expected to be approved in the coming days. “It’s not likely the widening will move forward without additional funding becoming available,” said Bitter, the city manager. “Without this tax, the SR 347 widening will not be prioritized in the foreseeable future, leaving our community to wait potentially decades for much-needed improvements,” said the city in a press release. “Without a local funding match, ADOT will not be able to find the financial resources necessary to include the widening project in their expansion plan,” read the release, referring to the Arizona Department of Transportation. This proposal has a long way to go. Last month, Maricopa city leaders held three open houses to educate and hear from residents about the plan. They’ll take that feedback and put it in front of the city council for consideration.
WOULD YOU PAY MORE TAX TO WIDEN SR 347?
R iggs Road
347
C asa Blanca Road
238
Yes 60%
No 35%
MARICOPA
347
Undecided: 5%
SR 347 improvements in that county, the PRTA said its new plan was to hand the reins over to the city. “Funding for the Riggs Road project remains, but we still need to find the financing for the Pinal County section of SR 347,” Manfredi said in a statement after PRTA board met. “I believe a half-cent local sales tax on purchases within city limits may be the answer. This option will need to be discussed at the council level.” Chartered cities such as Tucson, where
In November, InMaricopa.com asked local residents if they would support a sales tax for SR 347 expansions. Of more than 1,400 surveyed, 6 in 10 respondents said they would. However, some of the supporters were hesitant about how the money would be managed, such as Rancho El Dorado resident Cortney Bias. “That road is dangerous,” she said. “I would pay a tax, but where would the money actually end up if I did?” Province resident Jessica Bryant was all in on the proposal. “Even though it’s not our tax burden to bear, the citizens of Maricopa will benefit,” she said. “Everyone and their mom agrees SR 347 is a massive problem. How is it that the state hasn’t figured out how to solve it?” Meanwhile, a little more than one- third of the respondents said they did not support the sales tax, with most citing taxes in the city as too high or that they believed the state, businesses or some other entity should cover the cost. Rancho Mirage resident Bob Carr was critical of another attempt to raise money for SR 347 from taxes. For many like him, trust is still broken. “I still want to know where the money is we have been paying in for this until the lawsuit a few years ago. Last I heard there was over $80 million in this fund,” he said. About 1 in 20 taxpayers were undecided about the tax.
HOW MUCH WOULD YOU PAY TO WIDEN SR 347?
Priscilla Behnke Rancho El Dorado I could donate more than $520 annually. Maybe even $1,000
Brandi McGowan Rancho El Dorado I would be OK with $1,000 just for the safety of our kids. They’re terrified to get their license and drive on that road.
Teniecka Drake Tortosa I would feel comfortable with up to $6,000 annually.
Effie Gross Homestead
Misty Leclair Desert Passage None. I get it, but all the prices have gone up and families are struggling to survive. I wouldn’t
James Polidore Homestead I wouldn’t want to because I’m on a limited income, but maybe a dollar
My income is very limited, but I would probably make a one-time donation under $1,000 if it were an option now.
if it were broken up in payments.
a month would be reasonable.
pay anything because they
Something’s got to be done eventually.
Lance Crutchfield , Hidden Valley I would contribute $50 to $100. I mean, whatever number is needed to get the ball rolling on widening it. There are still times I don’t leave home or schedule appointments around knowing how terrible the road is.
should’ve thought about widening SR 347 a long time ago before they brought 100,000 people here.
InMaricopa.com | May 2025
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