Election Day 2016: Arizona and Flagstaff proposition updates
Signs are posted throughout the University Union to direct voters to the poll Nov. 8 2016. The polls will be open until 7 p.m. tonight. (Photo by Sarah Booth)
Proposition 410: Increase funding for Coconino Community College programs
Proposition 410 proposes the addition of $1 to Coconino County District property owners’ taxes for the funding of Coconino Community College (CCC). Starting in 2019 and ending in 2026, the supplementation is predicted to provide CCC with an annual income of $3 million throughout its allotted implementation.
A YES vote would ensure the addition of the $1 tax for all Coconino County District property owners throughout a seven-year timeframe. It would then be funneled into educational funding for CCC not to exceed $3 million annually. A NO vote would refuse the allowance of this tax increase.
UPDATE
As of 8:24 p.m., Proposition 410 had the majority voting against its passing with 53.08 percent of Coconino County residents polling to fight the tax increase.
Proposition 411: Transit Tax (Local)
Proposition 411 asks voters to approve the continuation of a 0.295 percent city sales tax in order to pay for constructing, improving and maintaining the city’s public transit system. The proposition would extend the life of the tax another 10 years to 2030.
A YES vote would guarantee a continuation of the city’s current sales tax rate until 2030, while a NO vote would mean a reduction in sales taxes after 2020.
UPDATE
As of 8:24 p.m., Proposition 411 was ahead in the polls with a staggering majority of 72.76 percent of the votes in favor of improving the city’s public transit system.
Proposition 412: Municipal Court Bond Issue (Local)
Proposition 412 seeks the approval of $12 million in city bonds. The bonds would be used for the construction of a new municipal court building in cooperation with the state and the county. The municipal court would also be moved from its current location on North Beaver Street to North Agassiz Street, adjacent to the Coconino County courthouse and historic jail. The construction would also include a minimum 200-car parking garage. These bonds would be paid for through the extension of a secondary property tax that would stay at its current rate — there would be no raise in city taxes.
A YES vote would approve the $12 millions bonds for the construction of a new municipal court house. A NO vote would prevent the city from taking up these new bonds but would not provide city residents with a reduction in taxes.
UPDATE
As of 8:24 p.m., the county recorder revealed that the passing of Proposition 412 was ahead in the polls with 54.10 percent of voters for the approval of the city bonds.
Proposition 413: Greater Buffalo Park (Local)
Proposition 413 would protect an estimated 253 acres of city-owned property on McMillan Mesa and approximately 47 acres of city-owned property just south of Buffalo Park. The proposition would prevent the city from using the land in a way that might disrupt its current natural state. The proposition does allow 10 acres of the land on McMillan Mesa to be used for the creation of a veterans’ services facility.
A YES vote will designate this land as a public space, while a NO vote will leave the land in its current state under the control of the city council.
UPDATE
As of 8:24 p.m., 88.14 percent of Coconino County voters voted in favor of Proposition 413 and its ultimate goal to transform Buffalo Park into public land.
Proposition 414: Flagstaff Minimum Wage Initiative (Local)
Proposition 414 is a local initiative which intends to raise the minimum wage in Flagstaff from $8.05 an hour — Arizona’s current minimum wage — to $10 an hour by July 1, 2017, and then raise every year to $15 an hour by Jan. 1, 2021. This would also keep the Flagstaff minimum wage $2 above the state minimum wage. Lastly, the initiative would mandate the tipped minimum wage becomes the full minimum wage by 2026.
A YES vote will raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour by 2021, while voting NO means the minimum wage will remain at $8.05 an hour, the same as the state of Arizona.
UPDATE
As of 8:24 p.m., voters in favor of the minimum wage being raised in Flagstaff were ahead in the polls with 54.16 percent of votes cast for the passing of Proposition 414.
Proposition 205: Arizona Marijuana Legalization (State)
Proposition 205 seeks to legalize the use of recreational marijuana in the state of Arizona by any individual who is at least 21 years of age. It would establish a Department of Marijuana License and Control that would regulate the new market including “the cultivation, manufacturing, testing, transportation and sale of marijuana,” according to the ballot summary. The retail sale of the drug would have 15 percent tax and all the tax revenues would fund education as well as campaigns to educate the public about the “relative harms of alcohol, marijuana and other substances.” The proposition would allow anyone at least 21 years of age to not only consume marijuana, but possess up to one ounce and grow a maximum of 12 plants. If the law were to go through, medical marijuana dispensaries would be granted the opportunity to start running their businesses as recreational marijuana facilities under local government’s regulations.
A YES vote will legalize recreational marijuana in the state of Arizona, while a NO vote will leave Arizona’s current marijuana laws as is.
UPDATE
As of 8:13 p.m., Proposition 205 was falling behind in the polls with 53.69 percent of the votes against the legalization of recreational marijuana.
Proposition 206: Raising Arizona Minimum Wage (State)
Proposition 206 aims to raise Arizona’s statewide minimum wage from $8.05 an hour to a $12. The passing of this proposition would increase the state’s minimum hourly pay at a staggered rate over a period of three years, starting as $10 in 2017. Starting in 2021, voters could eventually see it increase even further as it adjusts to the new cost of living in Arizona. Owners of businesses where employees receive tips will still retain the authority to lower hourly pay by a maximum of $3. However, the proposition will also grant hourly employees of businesses with over 15 staff members one hour of paid sick time for every 30 hours worked.
A YES vote would raise Arizona’s minimum wage from $8.05 to $12 an hour over a period of three years and grants hourly employees paid sick time. A NO vote would keep the minimum wage adjusted to the cost of living at $8.05 an hour and leaves the decision of paid sick time up to the employers.
UPDATE
As of 8:13 p.m., the first glimpse of voting results showed Proposition 206 was leading in the polls by nearly 20 percent with 571,835 votes in favor of raising the minimum wage.