Coconino County staff recommend posting truth-in-taxation notices; propose modest levy increases despite lower county rate

Coconino County staff recommended initiating legal notices for the county—s truth-in-taxation process and scheduling a public hearing on June 24 to set property tax levies for the general fund, the Public Health Services District and the Flood Control District, staff said at a Board of Supervisors budget meeting.

The recommendation follows budget work that would increase the county—s general fund levy by 2 percent on properties on the prior year roll while holding or reaching statutory maximums for two secondary districts. "This is a notice of a tax increase," staff member Siri said, explaining that the levy can rise even while the tax rate shown on the notice declines because assessed values have increased.

Why it matters: Coconino County currently has the lowest primary property tax rate among Arizona counties, staff said. Because values are rising faster than the allowable levy increase, the calculation produces a lower per-dollar tax rate while producing a larger levy in dollars. That algebra means the county expects modest additional revenue that officials called predictable and stable.

Staff presented the recommended changes in dollars and median impacts. For the general fund, the county—s current property tax…