food stamps; finger imaging
program
The
TSA is responsible for constructing, financing, maintaining, operating and
promoting a multipurpose facility, major league baseball spring training
facilities and community youth and amateur sports facilities (Laws 2000,
Chapter 372). Funding sources include monies that are generated by a tax
increase on hotels (1%) and car rental surcharge (3.25%) approved by Maricopa
county voters at the November 7, 2000 election. In addition to recaptured transaction privilege tax revenues
generated at the multipurpose facility and income taxes generated by the
Arizona Cardinals football franchise, its players and employees. The Arizona
Cardinals football franchise is required to contribute $85 million towards the
facility, but the franchise also retains the naming rights for the facility.
Additionally, the TSA has the power to issue bonds and pledge revenues to
secure those bonds. The Authority was required to be established in a county
that has a population of more than two million persons, which limited the
potential sites to within Maricopa County. Current statute requires a county or
city to provide the land, infrastructure and parking facilities associated with
this multipurpose facility.
At
the time of enactment, The Governor’s Office and other proponents of this
measure estimated the new taxes and revenues generated at the new facility
would total approximately $1.93 billion over 30 years. Additionally, the
proponents estimated total expenditures for the facility to total approximately
$1.57 billion over the same time period, resulting in surplus of about $359
million. However, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) cautioned that
if the new tax revenues were not as strong as predicted, the authority would
not be able to meet all of its projected expenditures. This would result in
lower priority programs such as the youth and amateur sports facility fund from
receiving the projected funds.
· Provides an emergency measure for a moratorium on TSA activities, including entering into a contract, selecting a stadium site and incurring debt.
· Creates a ballot measure, asking voters in the authority whether to continue the TSA in the September 2002 election.
·
Establishes two intergovernmental agreements between
the Authority and the County: to place the ballot measure in the next election
and to prepare, print and distribute a publicity pamphlet on the measure.
· Requires the publicity pamphlet to contain the following:
· An analysis of the TSA’s activities to date in providing a multipurpose facility and funding for major league baseball spring training, amateur and youth sports facilities and tourism promotion.
· TSA expenditures, obligations incurred and outstanding debt
· A statement of all monies, both public and private, to be spent on the multipurpose facility
· The form, title, and summary of the measure to be put on the ballot
· Arguments for and against the measure
·
Requires the ballot to contain the following:
·
The
official title and number of the measure
·
A
descriptive title that summarizes the measure not to exceed 50 words
· Question to the voters: Do you favor continuation of the current funding and activities of the Tourism and Sports Authority?
·
States that this ballot measure is does not constitute
a submission to the voters under the power of referendum.
·
Continues
funding for both Major League Baseball Spring training facilities and community
youth and amateur sports facilities in the authority. All monies will be
distributed by the State Treasurer from the state general fund.
·
If
the voters chose to discontinue the TSA, the Governor shall appoint a receiver
to complete the orderly termination of the TSA. The receivers duties include the following:
3 Keep and maintain a complete
and accurate record of all proceedings
3 Provide for the maintenance
and disposition of properties and interests owned or controlled by the TSA
3 Request an audit on each of
the TSA funds and accounts by a certified public accountant by October 1,
2002. A copy of this audit must be
filed with the Auditor General.
3 Issue a final report, transmitting copies to the Governor, the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, the Legislative Council, the Secretary of State, and the Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records.
· Upon issuance of the final report by the receiver, the TSA is terminated for all purposes, and is repealed in statute.
· Makes technical and conforming changes