Contributed Article
GILA COUNTY – Whether in person in Globe or Payson or online via Gila County’s YouTube channel livestreaming the meeting, the public is welcome to attend the annual ‘Truth in Taxation’ public hearings the Gila County Board of Supervisors will convene July 16 after 10 a.m.
All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hearing scheduled for 10 a.m., Tuesday, July 16, at the Gila County Courthouse, Board of Supervisors Hearing Room, 1400 E. Ash St., Globe.
The hearing will be simultaneously broadcast to the supervisors’ conference room in the Tommie Cline Martin Gila County Complex, 707 S. Colcord Rd., Payson, and will be livestreamed on YouTube–find the link on the main page at gilacountyaz.gov.
“As a resident and taxpayer in Gila County, I understand that taxes are already high and that times are tough,” said Steve Christensen, Chairman of the Gila County Board of Supervisors. “I, myself, am committed to not raise the property tax rate. At this point, it has not increased for over 13 years. I believe it’s best to live within the revenue we now receive to operate the county.”
Gila County Finance Director Maryn Belling confirms that while the county’s primary tax rate has been consistent at 4.19% since 2010, “because of new construction and changes in value, that 4.19 renders a different total levy amount each year.”
Belling explains that, as stated in the Truth in Taxation hearing notice, the proposed amount of primary property tax levy increase – exclusive of new construction – is $924,530.07 or 3.456%.
According to the 2024 Levy Limit Worksheet issued Feb. 10, Gila County has $6,645,416 in new construction, which accounts for the increase in the remaining primary property tax levy amount.
First Hearing: Gila County Library District
In compliance with section 48-254, Arizona Revised Statutes, the Gila County Library District is notifying its property taxpayers of the district’s intention to raise its secondary property taxes over last year’s levy.
The Gila County Library District is proposing an increase in secondary property taxes of $53,507.75 or 3.456%.
For example, the proposed tax increase will cause the district’s secondary property taxes on a $100,000 home to be $24.25. Without the proposed tax increase, the total taxes that would be owed on a $100,000 home would have been $23.20.
The proposed increase is exclusive of increased secondary property taxes received from new construction. The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter-approved bonded indebtedness.
The first of two public hearings on the tax increase is scheduled for 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 16, at the Gila County Courthouse in the Board of Supervisors hearing room; also live-streamed to the Gila County Tommie Cline Martin Complex in Payson, and live-streamed at youtube.com/channel/UCkCHWVqrI5AmJKbvYbO-k2A/live.
Second Hearing: Primary Property Taxes
In compliance with section 42-17107, Arizona Revised Statutes, Gila County is notifying its property taxpayers of the county’s intention to raise its primary property taxes over last year’s levy.
Gila County is proposing an increase in primary property taxes of $924,530.07 or 3.465%.
For example, the proposed tax increase will cause the county’s primary property taxes on a $100,000 home to be $419. Without the proposed tax increase, the total taxes that would be owed on a $100,000 home would have been $400.90.
This proposed increase is exclusive of increased primary property taxes received from new construction.
The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter-approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.
