Increasing the Navajo County Expenditure Limit: Key Information for Voters

1. Increasing the Navajo County Expenditure Limit:Key Information for Voters “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

2. Navajo County Provides Important Services to Residents “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

3. Navajo County Receives Revenue from Various Sources “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

4. Constitutional Constraints The Arizona Constitution establishes limitations on county finances: • Property Tax Limit • Prop. 400 will NOT increase the property tax limitation. • Expenditure Limit • Prop. 400 will only allow the county to spend revenues that are already available. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

5. Proposition 400 would reset the constitutional expenditure limit for Navajo County, allowing revenues that are currently available to be spent on county priorities. PROPOSITION 400 WILL NOT AUTHORIZE ANY NEW TAXES. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

6. What is an “expenditure limit”? • A Constitutional limitation on annual county expenditures. • Based on actual county expenditures in 1980, when it was approved by voters, and adjusted for population growth and inflation. • May change only with voter approval. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

7. What is an “expenditure limit”? Since every county was spending different amounts in 1980, expenditure limits vary across the state. • In Arizona: • Navajo county is the 3rd lowest in per capita expenditures for basic services. • Navajo County has the 3rd lowest property tax rate. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

8. Navajo County Property Tax Dollar Out of every dollar of property taxes paid by county residents, Navajo County receives an average of 6 to 8 cents. CITIES1¢ NAVAJOCOUNTY7¢ SCHOOLS 71¢ FIREDISTRICTS13¢ SPECIAL DISTRICTS 8¢ “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

9. The Problem Navajo County’s elected officials all agree that the current expenditure limit is not sufficient to provide basic, essential public services. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

10. The Problem • Public Safety • Quality law enforcement, including prosecution and incarceration, is essential to maintain safe communities in Navajo County. Law enforcement coverage and availability are currently limited due to limited expenditures. • Transportation • Existing transportation dollars are strained by over 700 miles of existing county maintained roads. • Current transportation expenditures are not sufficient to handle increasing traffic volume. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

11. The Problem • Access to Services • Most services are limited to the Holbrook facility, which often means burdensome travel for citizens doing business with the county.  Improving facilities and satellite offices will allow government services to be more accessible to the public.   • Quality Work Force • Currently the county is struggling to cover increases in the employee cost of living, causing real wages to decrease annually.  • The current situation forces many talented people to leave county service, increasing operational and training costs and making it difficult to provide high-quality service. The county experienced approximately 20% employee turnover last year. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

12. The Proposal Request voter approval at the November 7 general election for an increase to the Navajo County expenditure limit through Proposition 400. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

13. The Proposal • Voting “yes” for Prop. 400 will NOT authorize any new taxes. • Voting “yes” for Prop. 400 will allow current revenues to be spent on improved county services. • Currently, 25% of revenues received from the state of Arizona cannot be used toward county services and improvements. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

14. The Proposal Prop. 400 would allow Navajo County to address important county service priorities. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

15. The Proposal • Public Safety • A “yes” vote for Prop. 400 would allow for increased law enforcement coverage and availability. • Transportation • An increased expenditure limit will allow for additional investment in transportation infrastructure. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

16. The Proposal • Access to Services • Prop. 400 would allow for the improvement of facilities and satellite offices to provide more accessible government services. • Quality Work Force • An increase in the expenditure limit will allow for reduced operational and training costs to make a more effective and efficient workforce. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

17. Summary • Proposition 400 will not authorize any additional taxes; it will allow current revenues to be utilized for essential public services. • Navajo County will be authorized to invest additional resources in county transportation, public safety and accessible county offices. • Navajo County elected officials agree that the expenditure limit, based on 1980 service levels, is not sufficient to meet current demand for basic public services. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”

18. www.co.navajo.az.us (928) 524-4000 For more information on how Proposition 400 may affect you, please contact county administration or your county elected officials. Regardless of how you intend to vote, Navajo County encourages you to become informed and exercise your right to vote. “Proudly Serving, Continuously Improving”