(The Center Square) – Arizona voters will have the opportunity to decide if property owners should be allowed to receive a property tax refund to cover “reasonable” costs accrued by unmitigated public nuisances related to homelessness, vandalism, property crime and drug use.
The property owner – either commercial or residential – would need to document the expense and be able to prove that it was a direct result of the government failing to enforce relevant public nuisance laws.
It would then be the State Department of Revenue’s responsibility to approve or deny the refund of the claims. If the claim is rejected by the state or county, property owners would be able to bring a civil claim to superior court. If the court rules in favor of the property owner, the local government would be required to repay the litigation costs.
There are multiple effects of Prop. 312, according to a report by the Arizona Common Sense Institute, one being that the threat of having to provide a property tax refund would encourage more law enforcement and initiatives to mitigate homelessness and crime. This would also allow properties to retain their value.