Property Tax rate set to drop in new Pinal budget

FLORENCE — Pinal County’s primary property tax rate will be cut by almost nine cents in the new fiscal year according to a tentative budget of nearly $1.23 billion approved Wednesday by the Pinal Board of Supervisors.

The budget also reduces the county’s secondary property tax rate after staying the same for years; is structurally balanced; and invests in employees, infrastructure and equipment toward the goal of “excellent service to our constituents,” Pinal Budget and Finance Director Angie Woods told the board.

Pinal’s primary property tax rate will drop from $3.45 per $100 of net assessed value to $3.36. This follows declines for most of the last several years, since the rate was $3.83 in 2018.

After holding steady for the last five years, Pinal’s secondary tax rate to fund its Flood Control District will drop slightly from $0.17 to $0.16, “about a 4 1/2% decrease,” Woods said. The secondary rate funding Pinal’s Library District will drop from $0.0913 to $0.0890 or about 3%, Woods said.

Property tax accounts for about 24% of Pinal County’s revenue, followed by federal funding at 18%.

Pinal’s median income for wage earners increased 1.3% in the past year to $77,290, coming close to the national median of $77,719. Pinal population grew by 5.6% to 513,862 people, Woods said.

“We have here in the county a strategic priority for financial strength and stewardship; this budget is built upon that continued commitment,” Woods said. She thanked all those, including a management and budget analyst and budget supervisor, who have worked long hours since January to prepare the budget.

Board Chairman Steve Miller, R-Casa Grande, noted the budget figure approved Wednesday is “the cap” and can be lowered but not raised. Final budget adoption is scheduled for July 2.

In other business Wednesday:

The board voted to withdraw an item seeking approval for a July Fourth fireworks display in Saddlebrooke after Sheriff Ross Teeple, Emergency Management Director Kore Redden and the Golder Ranch Fire District chief expressed concerns about the fire risk. Board members suggested a drone show or laser light show.
The board honored several employees for their years of service. Celebrating 25 years with Pinal County are Mike J. West, Information Technology interim deputy director, and Laura J. Bedell, administrative specialist in Juvenile Court Services. Celebrating 20 years are Lupita M. Bracamonte, jury manager for the Superior Court Clerk; Mario A. Rodriquez, quality assurance inspector in Development Services; Sarah A. Hess, IT support supervisor; James E. Rimmer II, lieutenant in the Sheriff’s Office; and Reyna M. Garcia, detention officer in the Sheriff’s Office.