From the Desk of Jan Lesher, Pima County Administrator
Vol. 2, No. 8 - May 23, 2023

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Supervisors adopt tentative budget
The Board of Supervisors approved the tentative budget May 16. At $1.76 billion, the new budget reflects $172 million reduction from the current fiscal year and sets the combined County property tax rate at $5.1048, an increase of just 0.78% over the current year. It holds the line on taxes despite the toll of inflation and state cost shifts. Final adoption of the budget is tentatively scheduled for June 20.

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New budget includes $20 million for road repair
The new budget allocates $20 million in state-shared gas and vehicle license tax revenue toward the County’s Road Repair and Pavement Preservation Program. This is in addition to road repair funds collected through the County’s PAYGO program. Together, they represent a combined investment of $273.8 million for road repair since PAYGO’s 2019 inception.

READ THE RECOMMENDED BUDGET

Supervisors approve $35K in outside agency funding for tourism
The Board also approved $35,000 in funding for outside agencies in support of tourism. Old Pueblo Trolley, Inc., which operates the Southern Arizona Transportation Museum, will receive $15,000. The Tucson Symphony Orchestra and the Tucson Juneteenth Festival will each receive $10,000.

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Women's professional soccer coming to Pima County
On May 16, the FC Tucson Ownership Group announced it had secured a United Soccer League Super League franchise. County Administration has met with the FC Tucson owners to discuss ways to make this new venture a success at the Kino Sports Complex. The new women’s professional soccer league, which says it expects to have 10 to 12 teams competing in its inaugural season, plans to launch in August 2024.

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