ARIZONA STATE SENATE
Phoenix, Arizona
bond election pamphlets;
disclosures
Purpose
Expands bond election
informational pamphlet content requirements and the time frames for mailing
pamphlets certifying bond election results.
Background
Informational pamphlets have
been required for bond elections since 1994. Statute requires the pamphlet to
be mailed to registered voters within 10 to 40 days prior to a bond election
(ARS §35-454). Currently, the pamphlet must include the amount of the bond
authorization, maximum interest rate of the bonds, estimated debt retirement
schedules, source of repayment and estimated costs of issuance. The pamphlet
must also include the estimated tax impact for residential, commercial and
industrial properties as determined by the governing body of the political
subdivision.
H.B. 2443 requires the
governing body of a political subdivision to include in the informational
pamphlet the estimated tax rate impact on the valuation of agricultural
property and on residential property with a full cash value of $100,000. This
bill also expands the time frames for mailing pamphlets certifying bond
election results.
Provisions
1. Increases, from 40 to 50, the number of days before bond elections a governing body of a political subdivision is permitted to mail informational pamphlets to the home of each registered voter within the subdivision.
2. Expands the informational pamphlet contents to include the estimated tax rate impact on the valuation of agricultural property and on all owner-occupied residential property with a full cash value of $100,000.
3. Requires the tax rate impact to show the projected average annual cost of the bond authorization, including principal and interest, over the life of the bond.
4. Requires the estimated total cost of the bond to be disclosed in bold faced type.
5. Changes the time frame for a governing body to hold a special meeting to certify the voting results from within one week from the twelfth day following the elections to within 20 days after the election.
6. Specifies variations between the actual annual and total costs and the estimated costs do not invalidate the election or bonds.
7. Makes conforming changes.
8. Provides for a general effective date.
Amendments
Adopted by Committee
1. Specifies that the Board of Supervisors or governing body of a political subdivision has a maximum of 20 days to hold a special meeting to certify bond election results.
2. Makes a technical change.
House Action Senate
Action
WM 3/19/02 DPA 6-2-0-2 FIN 4/15/02 DPA 8-0-0-0
3rd Read 4/2/02 36-19-5-0
Prepared by Senate Staff
April 16, 2002