Coconino News

Arizona State Rep. Austin Smith took to platform X, formerly known as Twitter, Monday to voice his dissent against the passage of Senate Bill 1102, known as Proposition 400, and make why he voted against the measure this week.

The state legislature's representatives voted to place Prop 400 on the ballot in Maricopa County. The proposition would add a half-cent transportation tax to fund roads and public transportation. 

"I voted NO on the prop 400 transportation excise tax for Maricopa County," Smith said in his Twitter post Monday, the same day as the state legislature's vote. "Taxpayer dollars are not ours to dish out haphazardly - especially to the tune of 20 BILLION dollars with potential consequences that ruin valley transportation."

State conservatives have expressed dissatisfaction with with the bill's passage, leading to Prop 400 being presented to voters for the third time since 1984, according to AZMirror's news story covering the vote. The bill's passage followed Arizona's longest-ever legislative session, 204 days, surpassing the previous record set of 173 days set in 1988.

"Today, bipartisan leaders invested in the future of Arizona families, businesses, and communities," said Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs said in her Tweet. "The passage of the Prop 400 ballot measure will secure the economic future of our state and create hundreds of thousands of good-paying jobs for Arizonans. I am glad we were able to put politics aside and do what is right for Arizona."

The tax was initially approved in 2004 and is scheduled to lapse by the end of 2025. The bill secured House approval with a vote of 43-14 and subsequently gained Senate endorsement with a vote of 19-7. The bill consists of a $24 billion allotment that spans two decades, designating 40.5% for freeways and highways, 37% for public transit, and 22.5% for roads and intersections. An earlier rendition of SB1102 was previously endorsed by both legislative chambers in June, primarily backed by Republicans. However, Hobbs vetoed that version, according to AZMirror's news story.

"A disappointing day, we had plenty of time to craft a better Prop 400 bill," said Arizona State Rep. Justin Heap said in his own Tweet. "Thank you to the many great Representives who fought with us and the many citizens to reached out with support and encouragement. Conservatives are happy warriors so it's on to the next fight."