By Daniel Stefanski |

A ballot measure to protect Arizonans from the rise of unabated homelessness in communities was overwhelmingly passed by voters in the General Election.

Earlier this month, Proposition 312 received almost 60% of the vote, cruising to a smooth victory on Election Night. The measure, which was referred to the ballot from the Arizona Legislature, stipulates that “property owners may apply for a tax refund for expenses incurred due to a governing authority’s failure to enforce certain public nuisance laws on or near the owner’s real property.”

The legislative vehicle for the measure, HCR 2023, was sponsored by House Speaker Ben Toma. It passed both chambers in the Arizona Legislature with bipartisan support and was transmitted to the Secretary of State’s Office in March of this year.

In a statement after the successful passage of the bill out of his chamber, Senate President Warren Petersen said, “There are instances where local governments routinely and repeatedly fail their citizens by not enforcing laws. An example of this would be the City of Phoenix’s handling of the former homeless encampment known as ‘The Zone.’ This area was not only a public safety and public health disaster for those who camped there, but it was also a detriment to the livelihoods of small business owners who set up their shops in the area.”

Petersen added, “Money talks, and as a way to encourage municipalities to enforce the law, Speaker Toma and I teamed up to sponsor HCR 2023/SCR 1006. This measure is a ballot referral that would protect law-abiding citizens. If approved by voters, property owners would be allowed to request a refund for expenses incurred to mitigate the problem, up to the amount of their property tax liability. The funds would be deducted from the local government’s state shared revenue.”

Speaker Toma also had said, “Business owners and residents alike are having their property stolen, vandalized, or terrorized and are desperate for help. That’s why I sponsored HCR2023, to hold our local governments accountable to our community members and to help provide some relief for property owners who have suffered damages because of a city’s purposeful failure to provide the public health and safety services we all pay for.”

The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, which was instrumental in promoting the proposition, issued a statement following the General Election win, writing, “Arizona voters have sent a clear message: Government, do your job. They do not want our state to become the next San Francisco or Los Angeles. Prop 312 is a win for property owners, businesses, and everyday Arizonans who too often shoulder the costs of unaddressed homelessness.”

The Goldwater Institute, which also pushed for Prop 312’s passage, also took a well-deserved victory lap after the positive result. The organization’s President and CEO, Victor Riches, stated, “The voters sent a clear message this election cycle: they demand their tax dollars be used to enforce the law and address rampant homelessness. Now that Prop 312 is law, business and property owners will not be left holding the bag when municipalities refuse to do their job.”

Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.