The City of Maricopa is working to address the congestion on State Route 347. After previous funding attempts through propositions were unsuccessful, the City Council is now considering a new sales tax to raise money for adding lanes to the highway, as reported by the City of Maricopa.
Proposition 417, a half-cent tax, was blocked by the Arizona Supreme Court, and Proposition 469 failed at the ballot box. The city will hold three public open houses in April at locations such as the Maricopa Community Center and the Library & Cultural Center to discuss a new sales tax proposal, which would not apply to groceries. "Maricopa residents approved this measure with over 58% of the vote," according to the City of Maricopa.
Maricopa City is working to secure local funding for the SR 347 project and get it included in Arizona Department of Transportation’s plan. City Manager Benjamin Bitter said, "This is our opportunity to secure local funding and position SR 347 for inclusion in ADOT’s plan without unnecessary delays." The plan involves using local sales tax and seeking support from state and regional leaders to help fund the project. There will be open houses on April 10 at Maricopa Community Center, April 19 at Copper Sky Multigenerational Center, and April 22 at Maricopa Library & Cultural Center. The sessions will be from 10:00 to 11:30 AM on April 10 and 19, and from 6:30 to 8:00 PM on April 22. A 60-day public notice period is required before any tax increases are finalized, as stated by the City of Maricopa.
