Apache Junction staff present draft ordinances for two 0.2% incremental taxes; public hearing set for Jan. 21

City staff introduced two draft ordinances that would add two incremental 0.2% taxes — one to fund street repairs and maintenance and another to support the public safety pension — and told the council the measures will be the subject of a public hearing on Jan. 21.

The ordinances, identified in the presentation as draft Ordinance No. 1561 and draft Ordinance No. 1562, amend the city's tax code to add the two separate 0.2% increments. Staff said the required 60-day public notice was posted following direction the council gave about 60 days earlier and that no council action was required at the Jan. 7 meeting.

"You all gave direction to city staff to bring forward ordinances for you to review and consider regarding the two incremental taxes of 0.2% — one for the road tax, or streets and road repairs and maintenance, and the other for the maintenance of the public safety pension," a staff member identified in the meeting as Matt said. He summarized the timeline and said the public hearing will be Jan. 21.

Bryant Powell, city manager, reminded the council that tonight's presentation was informational and that the public hearing and any formal action would occur on Jan. 21. "Tonight's goal only is to make sure that you know that the staff and the mechanism to get these in place has to go through that process and that you're aware that it's been doing that and it's out there," Powell said.

Council members did not ask substantive policy questions about the tax rate or the use of revenues at the Jan. 7 meeting; staff invited members of the public and council to raise questions during the Jan. 21 public hearing.

The council took no vote on the draft ordinances at this meeting; the staff presentation and scheduled public hearing are the current steps in the ordinance process.