Property tax bills indicate signs of easing

Most Maricopa County homeowners saw slight relief on their property taxes this year. But the overall decline wasn’t as steep as the drop in the value of their houses, continuing a pattern that has held true for six years, according to an Arizona Republic analysis.

The lower tax bills generally were the result of moderate cuts in school tax rates and special-district taxing rates, along with a final year of lower property values on which the taxes were based. But exceptions abound because of the county’s confusing array of taxing districts.

Read more...Property tax bills indicate signs of easing

Property-tax bills may dip for many

The total property-tax levy for all taxing districts in Maricopa County is down by $29 million this year, though some county taxpayers’ 2013 bills will not be any less than last year’s when they land in the mailbox this month.

The county Board of Supervisors cut the county’s projected property-tax revenue by $33 million. However, that revenue decline is offset slightly by tax increases in other districts imposing levies for things like K-12 schools, community colleges and public amenities, Treasurer Charles “Hos” Hoskins said.

Read more...Property-tax bills may dip for many

Taxation Vexation: Tax appeals frequently lead to dead ends

As the owner of two houses in Scottsdale and one in Glendale, Walter Juessen probably knows more than most about real estate in Maricopa County.

Even so, he finds himself surprised by a property-tax system that seems to him at odds with common sense.

Two years ago, Juessen appealed the valuation of his Glendale house after finding that taxes on that property were proportionately higher than in Scottsdale.

In some ways, his experience reflects that of many others who challenge their property valuation in the county: He lost his appeal.

Read more: Taxation Vexation: Tax appeals frequently lead to dead ends

City debt refinancing will lower some property-tax bills

Residents in three Scottsdale communities will see a significant drop on their property-tax bills after the city successfully refinanced more than $28 million of debt.

Homeowners in the DC Ranch, McDowell Mountain Ranch and Via Linda Road communities-facilities districts will save an estimated $97 to $159 a year.

Read more: City debt refinancing will lower some property-tax bills

City debt refinancing will lower some property-tax bills

Residents in three Scottsdale communities will see a significant drop on their property-tax bills after the city successfully refinanced more than $28 million of debt.

Homeowners in the DC Ranch, McDowell Mountain Ranch and Via Linda Road communities-facilities districts will save an estimated $97 to $159 a year.

Read more: City debt refinancing will lower some property-tax bills

Maricopa County homeowners likely to see property-tax bill lowered

Property-tax bills are in the mail, and most Maricopa County homeowners should owe less than last year.

The typical metro Phoenix homeowner can expect his or her bill to drop by $18, the Maricopa County Treasurer's Office says. Last year, when home values were even lower, the average homeowner saw a bigger decrease, about $60.

This year's tax bills are based on 2010 valuations, when Valley home prices dropped a median of 11 percent. But the drop in a house's value does not translate to the same drop in a homeowner's taxes.

Read more: Maricopa County homeowners likely to see property-tax bill lowered

Maricopa County homeowners likely to see property-tax bill lowered

Property-tax bills are in the mail, and most Maricopa County homeowners should owe less than last year.

The typical metro Phoenix homeowner can expect his or her bill to drop by $18, the Maricopa County Treasurer's Office says. Last year, when home values were even lower, the average homeowner saw a bigger decrease, about $60.

This year's tax bills are based on 2010 valuations, when Valley home prices dropped a median of 11 percent. But the drop in a house's value does not translate to the same drop in a homeowner's taxes.

Read more: Maricopa County homeowners likely to see property-tax bill lowered

Property-tax bills may rise in Paradise Valley school district

Paradise Valley Unified School District taxpayers will see a slight increase in their property-tax bills for the district.

The average tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home may climb from $22.55 to $24.71, under the increase in the primary property-tax levy that the five-member governing board approved Thursday.

The tax levy provides $633,000 in "adjacent ways" -- discretionary funding to the district. That fund represents a small fraction of the budget -- less than two-tenths of the district's $186 million maintenance and operations funding, district officials said.

District budget chief Tom Elliott said the tax levy for adjacent ways last year amounted to 48 cents for a home with an assessed value of $100,000. This fiscal year, the tax levy will be $2.16.

Elliott said the funding will cover about $83,000 in improvements that include a warning light and safety upgrades to a pedestrian crossing near 56th Street and Greenway Road outside Horizon High School and to improve traffic-flow issues at Explorer Middle School, 22401 N. 40th St.

The bulk of the discretionary money -- $425,000 -- will pay for construction at Larkspur Elementary School, 2430 E. Larkspur Road. About $125,000 will be put into the district's rainy-day fund.

by Emily Gersema - Jul. 17, 2012 The Republic | azcentral.com





Property-tax bills may rise in Paradise Valley school district

Property-tax bills may rise in Paradise Valley school district

Paradise Valley Unified School District taxpayers will see a slight increase in their property-tax bills for the district.

The average tax bill for the owner of a $100,000 home may climb from $22.55 to $24.71, under the increase in the primary property-tax levy that the five-member governing board approved Thursday.

The tax levy provides $633,000 in "adjacent ways" -- discretionary funding to the district. That fund represents a small fraction of the budget -- less than two-tenths of the district's $186 million maintenance and operations funding, district officials said.

District budget chief Tom Elliott said the tax levy for adjacent ways last year amounted to 48 cents for a home with an assessed value of $100,000. This fiscal year, the tax levy will be $2.16.

Elliott said the funding will cover about $83,000 in improvements that include a warning light and safety upgrades to a pedestrian crossing near 56th Street and Greenway Road outside Horizon High School and to improve traffic-flow issues at Explorer Middle School, 22401 N. 40th St.

The bulk of the discretionary money -- $425,000 -- will pay for construction at Larkspur Elementary School, 2430 E. Larkspur Road. About $125,000 will be put into the district's rainy-day fund.

by Emily Gersema - Jul. 17, 2012 The Republic | azcentral.com





Property-tax bills may rise in Paradise Valley school district

Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

To offset plunging home values, Scottsdale property owners will pay a higher property-tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The city issued a "Truth in Taxation" notice, saying that next year's combined tax rate is expected to increase to about $1.23 per $100 of a home's assessed value, up from about $1.09.

Priciest home sales | Photos


The owner of a $100,000 home, for example, would pay about $122.50 in city property taxes.

A public hearing is scheduled at 5 p.m. June 5 in City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Arizona has a two-tiered property-tax system. The "primary" tax covers government operations while a "secondary" tax supports bond debt for capital projects.

During budget talks, a majority of the Scottsdale City Council opposed a 2 percent increase allowed in the primary "levy," which represents the total amount collected in taxes.

But as property values plunge, the tax rate increases to offset lower land values. The total amount collected -- the levy -- remains similar.

The primary rate is expected to rise to about 50 cents of every $100 of assessed valuation, up from about 44 cents.

Likewise, the secondary rate will rise to about 72 cents, from about 65 cents.

While the amount collected in secondary taxes will drop by $300,000, assessed valuations have also fallen, resulting in the higher rate, said Scottsdale Finance Manager Lee Guillory.

In Scottsdale, about 13 cents of every dollar in property taxes goes to the city. The rest are taxes for public schools, the county, community colleges and special taxing districts.

by Beth Duckett - May. 23, 2012 08:54 AM The Republic | azcentral.com



Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

To offset plunging home values, Scottsdale property owners will pay a higher property-tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The city issued a "Truth in Taxation" notice, saying that next year's combined tax rate is expected to increase to about $1.23 per $100 of a home's assessed value, up from about $1.09.

Priciest home sales | Photos


The owner of a $100,000 home, for example, would pay about $122.50 in city property taxes.

A public hearing is scheduled at 5 p.m. June 5 in City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Arizona has a two-tiered property-tax system. The "primary" tax covers government operations while a "secondary" tax supports bond debt for capital projects.

During budget talks, a majority of the Scottsdale City Council opposed a 2 percent increase allowed in the primary "levy," which represents the total amount collected in taxes.

But as property values plunge, the tax rate increases to offset lower land values. The total amount collected -- the levy -- remains similar.

The primary rate is expected to rise to about 50 cents of every $100 of assessed valuation, up from about 44 cents.

Likewise, the secondary rate will rise to about 72 cents, from about 65 cents.

While the amount collected in secondary taxes will drop by $300,000, assessed valuations have also fallen, resulting in the higher rate, said Scottsdale Finance Manager Lee Guillory.

In Scottsdale, about 13 cents of every dollar in property taxes goes to the city. The rest are taxes for public schools, the county, community colleges and special taxing districts.

by Beth Duckett - May. 23, 2012 08:54 AM The Republic | azcentral.com



Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

To offset plunging home values, Scottsdale property owners will pay a higher property-tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The city issued a "Truth in Taxation" notice, saying that next year's combined tax rate is expected to increase to about $1.23 per $100 of a home's assessed value, up from about $1.09.

Priciest home sales | Photos


The owner of a $100,000 home, for example, would pay about $122.50 in city property taxes.

A public hearing is scheduled at 5 p.m. June 5 in City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Arizona has a two-tiered property-tax system. The "primary" tax covers government operations while a "secondary" tax supports bond debt for capital projects.

During budget talks, a majority of the Scottsdale City Council opposed a 2 percent increase allowed in the primary "levy," which represents the total amount collected in taxes.

But as property values plunge, the tax rate increases to offset lower land values. The total amount collected -- the levy -- remains similar.

The primary rate is expected to rise to about 50 cents of every $100 of assessed valuation, up from about 44 cents.

Likewise, the secondary rate will rise to about 72 cents, from about 65 cents.

While the amount collected in secondary taxes will drop by $300,000, assessed valuations have also fallen, resulting in the higher rate, said Scottsdale Finance Manager Lee Guillory.

In Scottsdale, about 13 cents of every dollar in property taxes goes to the city. The rest are taxes for public schools, the county, community colleges and special taxing districts.

by Beth Duckett - May. 23, 2012 08:54 AM The Republic | azcentral.com



Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

To offset plunging home values, Scottsdale property owners will pay a higher property-tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The city issued a "Truth in Taxation" notice, saying that next year's combined tax rate is expected to increase to about $1.23 per $100 of a home's assessed value, up from about $1.09.

Priciest home sales | Photos


The owner of a $100,000 home, for example, would pay about $122.50 in city property taxes.

A public hearing is scheduled at 5 p.m. June 5 in City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Arizona has a two-tiered property-tax system. The "primary" tax covers government operations while a "secondary" tax supports bond debt for capital projects.

During budget talks, a majority of the Scottsdale City Council opposed a 2 percent increase allowed in the primary "levy," which represents the total amount collected in taxes.

But as property values plunge, the tax rate increases to offset lower land values. The total amount collected -- the levy -- remains similar.

The primary rate is expected to rise to about 50 cents of every $100 of assessed valuation, up from about 44 cents.

Likewise, the secondary rate will rise to about 72 cents, from about 65 cents.

While the amount collected in secondary taxes will drop by $300,000, assessed valuations have also fallen, resulting in the higher rate, said Scottsdale Finance Manager Lee Guillory.

In Scottsdale, about 13 cents of every dollar in property taxes goes to the city. The rest are taxes for public schools, the county, community colleges and special taxing districts.

by Beth Duckett - May. 23, 2012 08:54 AM The Republic | azcentral.com



Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

To offset plunging home values, Scottsdale property owners will pay a higher property-tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The city issued a "Truth in Taxation" notice, saying that next year's combined tax rate is expected to increase to about $1.23 per $100 of a home's assessed value, up from about $1.09.

Priciest home sales | Photos


The owner of a $100,000 home, for example, would pay about $122.50 in city property taxes.

A public hearing is scheduled at 5 p.m. June 5 in City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Arizona has a two-tiered property-tax system. The "primary" tax covers government operations while a "secondary" tax supports bond debt for capital projects.

During budget talks, a majority of the Scottsdale City Council opposed a 2 percent increase allowed in the primary "levy," which represents the total amount collected in taxes.

But as property values plunge, the tax rate increases to offset lower land values. The total amount collected -- the levy -- remains similar.

The primary rate is expected to rise to about 50 cents of every $100 of assessed valuation, up from about 44 cents.

Likewise, the secondary rate will rise to about 72 cents, from about 65 cents.

While the amount collected in secondary taxes will drop by $300,000, assessed valuations have also fallen, resulting in the higher rate, said Scottsdale Finance Manager Lee Guillory.

In Scottsdale, about 13 cents of every dollar in property taxes goes to the city. The rest are taxes for public schools, the county, community colleges and special taxing districts.

by Beth Duckett - May. 23, 2012 08:54 AM The Republic | azcentral.com



Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

To offset plunging home values, Scottsdale property owners will pay a higher property-tax rate for the fiscal year beginning July 1.

The city issued a "Truth in Taxation" notice, saying that next year's combined tax rate is expected to increase to about $1.23 per $100 of a home's assessed value, up from about $1.09.

Priciest home sales | Photos


The owner of a $100,000 home, for example, would pay about $122.50 in city property taxes.

A public hearing is scheduled at 5 p.m. June 5 in City Hall, 3939 N. Drinkwater Blvd.

Arizona has a two-tiered property-tax system. The "primary" tax covers government operations while a "secondary" tax supports bond debt for capital projects.

During budget talks, a majority of the Scottsdale City Council opposed a 2 percent increase allowed in the primary "levy," which represents the total amount collected in taxes.

But as property values plunge, the tax rate increases to offset lower land values. The total amount collected -- the levy -- remains similar.

The primary rate is expected to rise to about 50 cents of every $100 of assessed valuation, up from about 44 cents.

Likewise, the secondary rate will rise to about 72 cents, from about 65 cents.

While the amount collected in secondary taxes will drop by $300,000, assessed valuations have also fallen, resulting in the higher rate, said Scottsdale Finance Manager Lee Guillory.

In Scottsdale, about 13 cents of every dollar in property taxes goes to the city. The rest are taxes for public schools, the county, community colleges and special taxing districts.

by Beth Duckett - May. 23, 2012 08:54 AM The Republic | azcentral.com



Scottsdale property tax increase to offset lower home values

Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Leif Swanson expected an explosion of anger when homeowners received property-valuation notices this year.

But what he and many others feared turned out to be a dud.

The issue wasn't home values -- always a touchy subject -- but a requirement for an affidavit declaring the property is the owner's primary residence. Failure to return the affidavit could result in property taxes going up as much as $600 a year.

Swanson, a Realtor, said he was aware of the pending change and planned to notify his clients of it in his February newsletter. He, like others in the real-estate industry, worried homeowners would not scrutinize the annual statements and either toss them in a file or throw them away, risking a hit on their property taxes.

But when Swanson got his own valuation notice, there was no affidavit.

That's because the county assessors, who send out the valuation notices, didn't follow through on the affidavit, a provision of the Legislature's "jobs bill" that passed last year.

"The cost of doing it would have been considerable," Maricopa County Assessor Keith Russell said.

Besides, lawmakers had already signaled they intended to repeal the requirement because it was burdensome, Russell said, so it made little sense to whipsaw homeowners with a new requirement, only to walk it back. The result has been confusion in the real-estate ranks, said Tom Farley, CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Those with long memories remember the debate at the Capitol in early 2011, when Farley warned that the affidavit could be easily overlooked and lead to unintended tax hikes.

That's because homeowners who actually live in their homes, as opposed to renting them out, automatically qualify for a rebate of up to $600 a year. Under last year's legislation, if a property owner didn't return the affidavit, he or she would lose the rebate.

"Our advice to homeowners right now is to sit tight," Farley said. "We're hoping this provision from last year's law will be repealed and a more targeted notice will be put in its place."

Lawmakers are speeding through two bills to do just that. One, Senate Bill 1217, has already passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote of the full House. The House version, House Bill 2486, which essentially does the same thing, is now in the Senate for action.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, proposed the affidavit as a way to ferret out people who claim multiple properties as their primary residence and wrongly get a tax break.

It was rolled into the jobs bill to offset the money the state would lose from property-tax cuts for business and agriculture. Lawmakers figured the state would save $39 million a year by not granting the rebate to rental properties.

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Feb. 22, 2012 10:21 PM The Republic | azcentral.com




Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Leif Swanson expected an explosion of anger when homeowners received property-valuation notices this year.

But what he and many others feared turned out to be a dud.

The issue wasn't home values -- always a touchy subject -- but a requirement for an affidavit declaring the property is the owner's primary residence. Failure to return the affidavit could result in property taxes going up as much as $600 a year.

Swanson, a Realtor, said he was aware of the pending change and planned to notify his clients of it in his February newsletter. He, like others in the real-estate industry, worried homeowners would not scrutinize the annual statements and either toss them in a file or throw them away, risking a hit on their property taxes.

But when Swanson got his own valuation notice, there was no affidavit.

That's because the county assessors, who send out the valuation notices, didn't follow through on the affidavit, a provision of the Legislature's "jobs bill" that passed last year.

"The cost of doing it would have been considerable," Maricopa County Assessor Keith Russell said.

Besides, lawmakers had already signaled they intended to repeal the requirement because it was burdensome, Russell said, so it made little sense to whipsaw homeowners with a new requirement, only to walk it back. The result has been confusion in the real-estate ranks, said Tom Farley, CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Those with long memories remember the debate at the Capitol in early 2011, when Farley warned that the affidavit could be easily overlooked and lead to unintended tax hikes.

That's because homeowners who actually live in their homes, as opposed to renting them out, automatically qualify for a rebate of up to $600 a year. Under last year's legislation, if a property owner didn't return the affidavit, he or she would lose the rebate.

"Our advice to homeowners right now is to sit tight," Farley said. "We're hoping this provision from last year's law will be repealed and a more targeted notice will be put in its place."

Lawmakers are speeding through two bills to do just that. One, Senate Bill 1217, has already passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote of the full House. The House version, House Bill 2486, which essentially does the same thing, is now in the Senate for action.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, proposed the affidavit as a way to ferret out people who claim multiple properties as their primary residence and wrongly get a tax break.

It was rolled into the jobs bill to offset the money the state would lose from property-tax cuts for business and agriculture. Lawmakers figured the state would save $39 million a year by not granting the rebate to rental properties.

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Feb. 22, 2012 10:21 PM The Republic | azcentral.com




Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Leif Swanson expected an explosion of anger when homeowners received property-valuation notices this year.

But what he and many others feared turned out to be a dud.

The issue wasn't home values -- always a touchy subject -- but a requirement for an affidavit declaring the property is the owner's primary residence. Failure to return the affidavit could result in property taxes going up as much as $600 a year.

Swanson, a Realtor, said he was aware of the pending change and planned to notify his clients of it in his February newsletter. He, like others in the real-estate industry, worried homeowners would not scrutinize the annual statements and either toss them in a file or throw them away, risking a hit on their property taxes.

But when Swanson got his own valuation notice, there was no affidavit.

That's because the county assessors, who send out the valuation notices, didn't follow through on the affidavit, a provision of the Legislature's "jobs bill" that passed last year.

"The cost of doing it would have been considerable," Maricopa County Assessor Keith Russell said.

Besides, lawmakers had already signaled they intended to repeal the requirement because it was burdensome, Russell said, so it made little sense to whipsaw homeowners with a new requirement, only to walk it back. The result has been confusion in the real-estate ranks, said Tom Farley, CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Those with long memories remember the debate at the Capitol in early 2011, when Farley warned that the affidavit could be easily overlooked and lead to unintended tax hikes.

That's because homeowners who actually live in their homes, as opposed to renting them out, automatically qualify for a rebate of up to $600 a year. Under last year's legislation, if a property owner didn't return the affidavit, he or she would lose the rebate.

"Our advice to homeowners right now is to sit tight," Farley said. "We're hoping this provision from last year's law will be repealed and a more targeted notice will be put in its place."

Lawmakers are speeding through two bills to do just that. One, Senate Bill 1217, has already passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote of the full House. The House version, House Bill 2486, which essentially does the same thing, is now in the Senate for action.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, proposed the affidavit as a way to ferret out people who claim multiple properties as their primary residence and wrongly get a tax break.

It was rolled into the jobs bill to offset the money the state would lose from property-tax cuts for business and agriculture. Lawmakers figured the state would save $39 million a year by not granting the rebate to rental properties.

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Feb. 22, 2012 10:21 PM The Republic | azcentral.com




Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Leif Swanson expected an explosion of anger when homeowners received property-valuation notices this year.

But what he and many others feared turned out to be a dud.

The issue wasn't home values -- always a touchy subject -- but a requirement for an affidavit declaring the property is the owner's primary residence. Failure to return the affidavit could result in property taxes going up as much as $600 a year.

Swanson, a Realtor, said he was aware of the pending change and planned to notify his clients of it in his February newsletter. He, like others in the real-estate industry, worried homeowners would not scrutinize the annual statements and either toss them in a file or throw them away, risking a hit on their property taxes.

But when Swanson got his own valuation notice, there was no affidavit.

That's because the county assessors, who send out the valuation notices, didn't follow through on the affidavit, a provision of the Legislature's "jobs bill" that passed last year.

"The cost of doing it would have been considerable," Maricopa County Assessor Keith Russell said.

Besides, lawmakers had already signaled they intended to repeal the requirement because it was burdensome, Russell said, so it made little sense to whipsaw homeowners with a new requirement, only to walk it back. The result has been confusion in the real-estate ranks, said Tom Farley, CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Those with long memories remember the debate at the Capitol in early 2011, when Farley warned that the affidavit could be easily overlooked and lead to unintended tax hikes.

That's because homeowners who actually live in their homes, as opposed to renting them out, automatically qualify for a rebate of up to $600 a year. Under last year's legislation, if a property owner didn't return the affidavit, he or she would lose the rebate.

"Our advice to homeowners right now is to sit tight," Farley said. "We're hoping this provision from last year's law will be repealed and a more targeted notice will be put in its place."

Lawmakers are speeding through two bills to do just that. One, Senate Bill 1217, has already passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote of the full House. The House version, House Bill 2486, which essentially does the same thing, is now in the Senate for action.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, proposed the affidavit as a way to ferret out people who claim multiple properties as their primary residence and wrongly get a tax break.

It was rolled into the jobs bill to offset the money the state would lose from property-tax cuts for business and agriculture. Lawmakers figured the state would save $39 million a year by not granting the rebate to rental properties.

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Feb. 22, 2012 10:21 PM The Republic | azcentral.com




Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Arizona bills target home-affidavit law

Leif Swanson expected an explosion of anger when homeowners received property-valuation notices this year.

But what he and many others feared turned out to be a dud.

The issue wasn't home values -- always a touchy subject -- but a requirement for an affidavit declaring the property is the owner's primary residence. Failure to return the affidavit could result in property taxes going up as much as $600 a year.

Swanson, a Realtor, said he was aware of the pending change and planned to notify his clients of it in his February newsletter. He, like others in the real-estate industry, worried homeowners would not scrutinize the annual statements and either toss them in a file or throw them away, risking a hit on their property taxes.

But when Swanson got his own valuation notice, there was no affidavit.

That's because the county assessors, who send out the valuation notices, didn't follow through on the affidavit, a provision of the Legislature's "jobs bill" that passed last year.

"The cost of doing it would have been considerable," Maricopa County Assessor Keith Russell said.

Besides, lawmakers had already signaled they intended to repeal the requirement because it was burdensome, Russell said, so it made little sense to whipsaw homeowners with a new requirement, only to walk it back. The result has been confusion in the real-estate ranks, said Tom Farley, CEO of the Arizona Association of Realtors. Those with long memories remember the debate at the Capitol in early 2011, when Farley warned that the affidavit could be easily overlooked and lead to unintended tax hikes.

That's because homeowners who actually live in their homes, as opposed to renting them out, automatically qualify for a rebate of up to $600 a year. Under last year's legislation, if a property owner didn't return the affidavit, he or she would lose the rebate.

"Our advice to homeowners right now is to sit tight," Farley said. "We're hoping this provision from last year's law will be repealed and a more targeted notice will be put in its place."

Lawmakers are speeding through two bills to do just that. One, Senate Bill 1217, has already passed the Senate and is awaiting a vote of the full House. The House version, House Bill 2486, which essentially does the same thing, is now in the Senate for action.

Rep. Debbie Lesko, R-Glendale, proposed the affidavit as a way to ferret out people who claim multiple properties as their primary residence and wrongly get a tax break.

It was rolled into the jobs bill to offset the money the state would lose from property-tax cuts for business and agriculture. Lawmakers figured the state would save $39 million a year by not granting the rebate to rental properties.

by Mary Jo Pitzl - Feb. 22, 2012 10:21 PM The Republic | azcentral.com




Arizona bills target home-affidavit law