Senate committee votes to continue Property Tax Oversight Commission through 2033

The Arizona Senate Finance Committee recommended continuing the Property Tax Oversight Commission for eight years, through July 1, 2033, after a brief summary from Karen Jacobs, the commission’s registered lobbyist.

The commission, established by 1987 legislation with an effective date of Jan. 1, 1988, reviews primary and secondary property tax levies and checks compliance with levy limits and truth-in-taxation hearing requirements. Karen Jacobs told the committee she was available for questions and offered a brief overview of the commission’s membership and duties: the commission has five members, the director of the Department of Revenue (or the director’s designee) serves as chair, and four other members must be knowledgeable in property tax assessment and levy matters.

The membership structure includes one member appointed by the governor and three jointly appointed by the president of the Senate and the speaker of the House. Members serve three-year terms and, if a term expires before a successor qualifies, the sitting member continues to perform the duties of the office. The Department of Revenue supplies staff support and the commission meets throughout the year as needed, with a statutory minimum of three meetings annually.

After Jacobs’ summary, a committee member moved that the committee recommend continuation of the Property Tax Oversight Commission for eight years, until July 1, 2033. The motion was approved by voice vote with no recorded roll call and no further discussion.

The continuation recommendation will move forward as part of the committee’s sunset actions. The committee next took up the sunset review of the Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.