Mason and Parker Opposed To Property Tax Hike On Solar Units

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:                                                                                                        

Contact: Nathan Sproul, 480-303-7175

June 12, 2014                                                                                                                      
Mason and Parker Opposed To Property Tax Hike On Solar Units

On Wednesday, June 4, Lucy Mason and Vernon Parker attended a rally at the Department of Revenue to voice their opposition to the new property tax increase imposed by the Department of Revenue.

The Department of Revenue issued an internal agency letter creating a rule to be used for county and state property tax assessments specifically siting leased solar panels on residential and business installations. The language directly overturns a law passed in 2009 and the 2014 legislature specifically rejected this language when DOR ran legislation proposing to include it in law this year.

Statement by Vernon Parker:

“I was stunned at the process pursued by special interest groups to advance this tax hike. There is little doubt in my mind that this is an attempt by large special interests in our state to silence their opposition by putting them out of business. Unfortunately, it is the consumer that pays the price while special interest groups fight it out in the back rooms of government. The most shameful part of this tax increase is that bureaucrats did it in the shadows. If I remember my history correctly, our nation was founded on the concept of ‘no taxation without representation.’ I hope my fellow candidates will join me in condemning this outrageous conduct and demand an immediate repeal. If elected to the Arizona Corporation, I will be a voice for transparency. I will demand accurate and honest accounting of every company regulated by the Commission. The ratepayers of Arizona deserve nothing less.”

Statement by Lucy Mason:

“When I was in the Legislature, I always opposed property tax increases. It’s not the way we should raise tax revenues. In this case, I’m doubly against it. First, we really don’t know for sure who funded this unprecedented and secretive lobbying effort. Clearly, a special interest group is trying to put their opponents out of business. There needs to be greater transparency, especially when it involves a tax increase. Second, tax increases should always be a last resort and enacted by the people’s representatives. I am shocked that a tax increase could be rammed through as a matter of rule making after the increase failed in the Legislature. This situation is a perfect example of why I’m running for the Corporation Commission. Special interest groups used all their crony capitalism tricks to sneak a tax hike through at the expense of the ratepayer. I will stand up against special interests and crony capitalism and stand for the people. ”

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