Pima Sets Bond-Vote Panel

An advisory panel established to determine the viability of a proposed $700 million general obligation bond package in Pima County will determine by March whether to ask county supervisors to call for a November bond election.

The bonds would provide financing for community projects and county infrastructure.

Pima County administrator Chuck Huckleberry told the panel last week that he would not recommend an election on the bond package in 2010 because the prevailing political climate at the mid-term elections will be against taxes.

Huckleberry said if voters approve the bonds, the first sale would occur in 2012.

Several advisory committee members are opposed to a bond election in November, but others said the debt-financed projects are vital to the county’s efforts in affordable housing and neighborhood re-investment.

Pima County’s general obligation debt is rated AA-minus by Standard & Poor’s and Fitch Ratings, and Aa3 by Moody’s Investors Service.

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