Apache Junction council adopts resolution urging state to respect local control of municipal rules and taxes

The Apache Junction City Council unanimously approved Resolution 25-04 on March 18, urging the Arizona Legislature to “respect local municipal government independence” and refrain from enacting laws the city says would harm municipal finances and local land-use control.

The resolution, introduced by city staff and read into the record at the council meeting, lists a series of state measures the city says have reduced or could reduce local revenue and zoning authority. It cites the 2023 enactment the resolution identifies as Senate Bill 1131, which it says eliminated municipal transaction privilege tax (TPT) on residential rentals and cost the city "approximately $1,500,000 per year," and a proposed statewide measure the resolution describes as House Concurrent Resolution 2021 that the city says could eliminate local TPT on food purchased for home consumption — for which the resolution states the city charges 2.4% and would lose "approximately $3,500,000 per year" if approved statewide.

Why it matters: City leaders said the measures under discussion at the state level constrain local governmentsability to fund essential services such as police, parks, libraries and road maintenance and also can pre-empt locally adopted land-use plans the voters approved.

Mayor Chip Wilson framed the resolution around examples he said show repeated state efforts to limit municipal control over zoning and housing. "They are trying to dictate as to what we can mandatetype of housing," Wilson said, describing bills that would limit local lot-size rules, restrict municipal limits on short-term rentals and permit additional accessory dwelling units or casitas. Wilson said those changes can strain infrastructure and alter community character.

The resolution names several state actions and bills by the language used in the citys text: it references Senate Bill 1131 (2023), Senate Bill 1350 (2016), House Bill 2720 (2024) and identifies other measures the city says are threatened or pending, including a descriptive reference to "House Bill 23 71" and "Senate Bill 12 29." It also cites House Concurrent Resolution 2021 as a statewide ballot measure the city says could remove TPT on retail food for home consumption.

Council members spoke in support of the resolution during the meeting. One council member told residents to "watch how your representatives and senators vote" and urged constituents to contact state lawmakers and use the state's public comment processes. During the public-comment period, resident Donna Carr asked how many signatures would be required to persuade the legislature to change course and offered to gather petition signatures and specific bill numbers for that effort.

Procedural note: The council read the resolution in full at the meeting before voting. After a motion to approve was made and seconded, the council recorded a unanimous vote in favor of Resolution 25-04.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution 25-04 (urging state legislature to respect municipal independence; described impacts include TPT losses and state pre-emption of local zoning): approved unanimously (yes: Mayor Chip Wilson; Vice Mayor Schroeder; Council members Cross, Heck, Johnson, Nasser, Soller). The motion was moved and seconded (mover/second not specified in the public audio). The resolution text as read into the record lists the state bills and effects summarized above.

Other formal action on the consent agenda

- Consent agenda (appointments and associate magistrate agreements): approved unanimously. The consent motion, which included authorization for Presiding Magistrate Thomas McDermott to execute associate magistrate agreements and appointments of juvenile hearing officers (names listed on the consent motion), passed on a unanimous recorded roll call.

What the resolution does and does not do

The councils resolution is a formal expression of the citys position directed at the Arizona Legislature; it does not change local ordinances or tax rates by itself and does not compel state action. The resolution requests that state lawmakers respect municipal authority and avoid passing laws the city says would reduce municipal revenue or pre-empt locally approved general plans.

Outlook

Council members urged residents to monitor state legislation and to use the Arizona public-comment and "Request to Speak" systems to register views with committees and lawmakers. City staff said they will continue to track state bills and return updates to the council as part of the citys legislative-monitoring work.