Mesa speaks: Poll backs property tax

The majority of Mesa residents would support some form of property tax if it meant better police and fire services in the city, a new Tribune poll revealed.

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Of the 400 people polled, more than 64 percent said they were willing to pay some form of property tax. About 31 opposed such a tax, while slightly more than 5 percent were undecided or refused to comment.

Phoenix-based Behavior Research Center polled 400 Mesa registered voters to ask them questions about city issues including a proposed property tax to improve the city's police and fire services. The poll had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

Jim Haynes, president of the Behavior Research Center, said the high number of those in favor is remarkable.

"Typically, people are highly opposed to any tax, especially property tax," Haynes said.

While the question posed did not directly ask about a $408 million bond proposal headed for the November ballot, the poll results indicate it has a chance to pass, given that the bond would help pay for police and fire services and street improvement projects, Haynes said. The proposed bond issue would create a secondary property tax to provide a steady revenue source.

In 2006, Mesa voters rejected a proposed primary property tax to fund ongoing city services.

Haynes said one reason for the broad support among poll respondents could be that the property tax question specifically mentioned safety-related services. Still, the strong endorsement came as a surprise.

"It might be that there's a feeling out there that there are some law enforcement issues that the city needs to address," Haynes said.

Eighty percent of those under 35 favored a property tax. Those between the ages of 35 and 54 were more likely to favor a tax than those older than 55.

That, said Haynes, could be a sign that older people are more sensitive to the impact a property tax would have on their finances.

"Younger people might feel more susceptible to law enforcement issues," he added.

Mesa resident Gaye Lynn, 35, is among those willing to pay the tax. A homemaker who takes care of three children, all younger than 5, said she strongly supports paying some form of property tax "to make the city livable."

"How can the city survive without it?" Lynn said. "I'm just as open as the next guy to not pay, but without property tax, we will just go downhill."

Lynn, a west Mesa resident of eight years who relocated from Oklahoma, said she's amazed that a city as large as Mesa has not imposed a property tax despite the tight budget and lack of a steady revenue stream other than sales tax and other taxes tied to education.

"It just blows my mind," said Lynn, who said she's come to a point where she might even move out of the city.

Lynn had voted in favor of the property tax in 2006 and said she would definitely vote for the November bond proposal.

But when asked whether they agree with a broader statement that Mesa cannot absorb any more cuts in city services and must raise taxes to make up the shortfall, poll respondents were almost equally divided. About 48 percent agreed with the statement, nearly 44 percent disagreed and just over 8 percent didn't know or refused to answer.

Haynes said it's likely that different people interpreted the statement in various ways.

"People can be thinking of their least favorite expenditure on city services and be thinking, 'Of course we can absorb further cuts,'" Haynes said.

Jay Butler, director of Arizona State University's Realty Studies Department, said it was unlikely voters would approve a tax increase unless it's tied to basic services such as police or fire.

"I don't think it's the kind of environment for that," Butler said, referring to the weakened economy.

One east Mesa resident affirmed that thought.

Lisa O'Leary, 41, said while she did not vote for the proposed tax in 2006, she would support some form of tax to maintain police and fire services.

She couldn't come up with a dollar figure, but O'Leary said as long as it's "reasonable," she could live with the wallet strain, despite her tight budget.

Northeast Mesa resident Francis Savukynas, 68, said he also favors paying tax only if it's attached to essential services. He pointed out that Mesans are "spoiled" when it comes to making contributions to the city's coffers.

"Back East, for a $40,000 home 20 years ago, people used to pay $5,000 in taxes a year," said Savukynas, who moved to Mesa from Pittsburgh. He said his annual property tax in Mesa is about $1,000.

Haynes said longtime residents would likely be more opposed to property tax than those who had moved from other areas where they were used to paying.

When asked to agree or disagree with the statement that Mesa does not need any additional police or fire services at this time, more than 67 percent of those polled disagreed.

Haynes said that response validates the results of the poll's property tax question.

Another statement that the city should delay street maintenance and postpone or cancel new road construction drew even more widespread disagreement - nearly 73 percent.

Evelyn Hanson, 43, said Mesa's streets need money pumped in, not out.

"Our streets are constantly a mess; the pollution, the congestion, it's terrible," Hanson said.

Polling methodology

The Tribune retained Behavior Research Center of Phoenix to ask registered voters in Mesa a series of questions about city issues and the upcoming election. Results encompass the opinions of 400 participants polled Feb. 21 to Feb. 24. The respondents chosen reflect the demographics of Mesa's voters and were evenly spread among geographic areas of the city. The margin of error is plus or minus 5 percentage points.

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