Representative Neal Carter’s View
Government Structure and Local Control
Arguments for Incorporation:
- City/town government would assume functions currently performed by the county within the proposed municipal area, making government more local and responsive
- Conservative principle holds that the best government is the most local and responsive to the people, allowing communities to make their own decisions most effectively
- Opportunity for local control over fire coverage, zoning decisions, and road maintenance
Clarification on Government Layers:
- County government would still exist and maintain essential functions including courthouse operations, deed recording, election administration, and jail services
- Residents would continue paying for county services while gaining municipal services
Common Arguments Heard in the Community
Primary Arguments Against Incorporation:
- Carter primarily hears concerns from opponents that taxes will increase
Primary Arguments For Incorporation:
- Carter primarily hears from supporters about opportunities to establish fire coverage services
- Supporters emphasize the ability to control local zoning decisions
- Supporters highlight direct responsibility for road maintenance and improvements
State Legislative Considerations
Important Factor Not Commonly Discussed:
- State legislature often drafts laws that apply only to counties or only to cities and towns, which could affect incorporated versus unincorporated areas differently
Example – Vacation Rental Regulations:
- Vacation rentals are popular in some places and unpopular in others, creating ongoing political conflicts
- Cities and towns currently have authority to regulate or tax vacation rentals
- State legislature sometimes considers bills to preempt local regulations
- Carter uses Sedona as an example, noting it has many vacation rentals, which some residents oppose while others support
- Through political negotiations, such laws often end up applying to some jurisdictions but exempting others (e.g., counties vs. cities, or communities over certain population thresholds)
Example – Park Model Trailer Regulations:
- A bill passed approximately two years ago allowed park model trailers (400 square foot manufactured homes) on privately owned acreage in unincorporated areas
- Previously, these trailers had to be located in parks and couldn’t be placed on private land in unincorporated areas, even on 10+ acre properties, though regular manufactured homes were allowed
- This law applied only to counties, not to cities and towns
- Demonstrates how state laws can create different regulations for incorporated versus unincorporated areas
Housing Policy Implications
Recurring Legislative Issue:
- Bills addressing housing policy come up regularly at the legislature due to concerns about homelessness and high housing costs
- Carter attributes high housing costs to high interest rates, other market conditions, and government delays in approving permits
- Legislation is introduced nearly every year to mandate cities and towns to provide zoning for starter homes of specific sizes
- Home builders argue that current zoning regulations requiring large homes (2,000-4,000 square feet) with significant lot sizes and setbacks make it impossible to offer affordable starter homes
- These bills typically apply only to incorporated areas (cities and towns), not unincorporated county areas
Representative Carter’s Position:
- Opposes state preemption of local zoning authority
- Believes in holding local elected officials accountable rather than having state legislature act as local zoning board
- Supports conservative principle of keeping government as local as possible
- Describes himself as very conservative, which informs his opposition to state preemption bills
Final Considerations
Decision-Making Authority:
- Incorporation decision rests entirely with local voters in the affected area
- Representative Carter notes he has no vote in the matter because he is not in the proposed incorporation territory
- Emphasizes this is fundamentally a local question for local voters to decide