Future ballot initiatives in Tucson would be required to identify a revenue source to cover their costs under a charter amendment being considered by the City Council.
Earlier this month city voters turned down a proposition that would have mandated expensive increases to the police force. Proposition 200 was rejected by 70% of the voters.
The charter amendment was proposed by councilor Nina Trasoff. It is modeled on a 2004 Arizona law that requires any initiative or referendum that proposes a mandatory expenditure of funds to identify a funding source for current and future spending.
Under the legislation, if revenue from the funding source declines, the mandated services must also be limited to match the revenue.
The defeated Proposition 200 would have required the Tucson Police Department to have a total of 2.4 officers per 1,000 residents and also would have set minimum response times for the Fire Department.
