Committee advances HB 309 to give county budget commissions expanded review of local levies
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Summary
The committee accepted a substitute to House Bill 309, which aligns the bill with budget language and gives county budget commissions clearer authority to review and, in limited circumstances, reduce tax rates (with a one‑year protection for new voter-approved levies). Supporters said it increases local accountability; critics warned the standard is broad.
Chairman Romer’s House Ways and Means Committee accepted a substitute for House Bill 309 after testimony and debate that focused on the measure’s changes to county budget commission authority.
Vice Chair Thomas, who moved the substitute, said the dash‑3 version brings HB 309 into conformity with the language approved in the budget and highlighted a provision that generally prevents a commission from decreasing a voter‑approved tax rate during the first year of collection. "This essentially makes a drive with what we all approved and passed in the budget," Thomas said, and described the language as a compromise to preserve local control while allowing limited review.
Ranking Member Troy questioned the bill’s "reasonably necessary or prudent" standard, calling it broad and asking whether additional guardrails could be added to prevent misuse. Thomas and supporters said existing safeguards—such as appeal rights to the Board of Tax Appeals and other statutory protections—would limit abuse, and that the provision was meant to address extraordinary circumstances.
Greg Lawson of Buckeye (testifying as an interested party) told the committee the group had supported empowering county budget commissions and endorsed the substitute as consistent with the packet of budget decisions passed earlier. Lawson said the bill is "a tool" for counties that choose to use it and urged lawmakers to consider broader local‑government structural reforms as a longer‑term solution.
Members pressed on operation and scope. Supporters emphasized that the county budget commission is a public, elected body and that decisions would be made in public meetings; skeptics warned that aggressive use of the commission could undermine voter intent in some cases. After questions and no additional testimony, Romer closed the third hearing on HB 309 and announced the substitute had been accepted by voice vote.
The bill will move forward as the committee’s record reflects acceptance of the substitute; supporters said they are open to further discussion about guardrails and implementation.
