Special districts within the United States often face challenges in accessing federal funds for infrastructure and development, as they are not considered units of government. Recognizing the significance of this issue, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ) introduced legislation to improve special districts' access, a crucial step that had just passed the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.
Special districts, as defined by the Arizona Legislature, are areas that fulfill a specific purpose for people in a given location, of which the Grand Canyon State has over 300, employing over 14,500 Arizonans.
These include area designations for firefighting, irrigation, hospitals, and energy supply. The state typically funds such districts without federal support, relying on ad valorem property taxes, sales, excise taxes, or bonds. As a result, they are only sometimes guaranteed adequate funding.
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Thus, Sen. Sinema sought to rectify the issue through the Special District Grant Accessibility Act, which she introduced in July with Senator John Cornyn (R-TX). This significant legislation would greatly improve the ability of special districts to receive federal funding, bringing about a positive change for these vital entities.
"Arizona is home to over 300 special districts – all of which provide critical services to our communities, including firefighting, clean water, health care, and more. We're ensuring special districts can access federal funding so they can keep helping and serving everyday Arizonans across our state," Sen. Sinema said in her press release.
In May, Representative David Schweikert (R-AZ) demonstrated the bipartisan spirit by introducing a bill that would improve Native American Tribal governments' access to tax-exempt government bonds, a measure that often transcends party lines.
"I am proud to introduce this legislation and continue supporting our promise to the 22 federally recognized tribes of Arizona. Provisions in this legislation will empower tribal governments, members, and their families. I look forward to working with my colleagues to advance this important work," said Rep. Schweikert about his Tribal Tax Investment and Reform Act.
