Jim Solares Tonner’s View
Addressing Property Tax Misinformation
- Jim disputes claims circulating on social media about property taxes going to $8,000
- Emphasizes that current property taxes paid to Pinal County will remain unchanged
- Notes that implementing a city property tax would be unlikely due to legal requirements
Legal Requirements for City Property Tax
- Property tax is considered the least popular revenue option among available choices
- Jim indicates they would not currently vote for a property tax
Revenue Generation Through City Sales Tax
- Acknowledges that a city sales tax is inevitable for incorporation to succeed
- Explains that cities require revenue sources to operate effectively
Current Shopping Patterns and Tax Impact
- Jim currently does most discretionary shopping in Gilbert, Queen Creek, and Chandler
- Already pays city sales taxes of approximately 2.25% to 2.5% when shopping in these neighboring cities
- Jim states that his large purchase items are done outside of San Tan Valley
Limited Local Tax Increases
- Most residents already pay sales taxes when shopping elsewhere, so incorporation wouldn’t increase their overall tax burden
- Only specific local businesses like car washes and McDonald’s on Hunt Highway would see minor tax increases since they don’t include municipal sales tax
- These locations currently only pay state and property taxes
Overall Tax Assessment
- Jim does not view the sales tax as a net increase for most residents
- Argues that keeping discretionary spending local would redirect existing tax payments to San Tan Valley rather than neighboring cities
- Concludes that tax concerns are not a valid argument against incorporation for most residents