ARIZONA TOWN ILLEGALLY DUMPS 70 MILLION DEBT ON RESIDENTS; GOLDWATER INSTITUTE SUES

The Town of Payson just authorized the sale of $70 million in municipal bonds as an “emergency” measure, denying residents the opportunity to exercise their constitutional right to organize a referendum and vote on the measure. That’s illegal, and the Goldwater Institute is seeking immediate relief in the form of a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction before the bond sale closes and it’s too late.

The Arizona Constitution and statute guarantee the popular right of referendum: that is, voters’ rights to refer a bill, ordinance, or resolution to the ballot and vote on it. While there is a narrow exception to the right of referendum for true emergencies—situations where immediate government action is necessary to preserve peace, health, or safety—no such emergency exists here, and the Town cannot bypass democratic accountability and impose $70 million of debt on Payson taxpayers without giving them a say.

https://www.goldwaterinstitute.org/arizona-town-illegally-dumps-70-million-debt-on-residents-goldwater-sues/