Mayor Clarinda Vail’s longtime goal of using Tusayan surplus funds to deliver payments to residents dodged a legislative bullet.

In April Governor Katie Hobbs vetoed a bill that would have prevented such payments. Specifically, House Bill 2375 “Prohibits a municipality or a county from establishing or enforcing a guaranteed income program.”

In vetoing the bill, Governor Hobbs wrote, “The broad language of this legislation could threaten programs Arizonans rely on such as housing, food, and emergency need programs if administered at the local level.”

Tusayan’s budget for the fiscal year that starts July first sets aside as much as $500,000 in payments for residents. The Town Council must still approve that proposal.

Mayor Vail feels part of the budget surplus created by Tusayan’s sizable sales tax revenues should go directly to residents as opposed to the government. She was relieved and pleased to learn of Hobbs’ veto. She said there was no advance warning of the bill from the Arizona League of Cities and Towns prior to its passage in the Arizona House and Senate.  Vail said, “I am glad we have a Governor who opposed legislative efforts to take that kind of action.”