Kyrene OKs bond election / P. 3
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Wednesday, May 31, 2023
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Phoenix eyes 2% primary property tax hike BY PAUL MARYNIAK AFN Executive Editor
T
he City of Phoenix administration is proposing a 2% increase in the primary property tax rate. In a report to City Council late last week, the administration said the proposed increase would generate an additional $4.1 million in revenue and raise the annual tax paid on a home valued at $100,000 to $128.51 – up $2.53.
“The proposed increase is exclusive of increased primary property taxes received from new construction,” the city said in its official “Truth in Taxation Notice. " “The increase is also exclusive of any changes that may occur from property tax levies for voter approved bonded indebtedness or budget and tax overrides.” A public hearing on the proposed tax increase is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. June 14 at Council Chambers, 200 W. Jefferson St., with
a vote by Council on the new tax rate slated for 10 a.m. July 3. The surprise announcement comes at a time when Ahwatukee homeowners also face a likely increase in water rates, which requires separate action by the council. Council on June 28 will be voting on a 26% increase in water rates and a 20% hike in waste water rates that will take effect in three sepa-
see TAX page 6
Unrelenting heartbreak for an Ahwatukee mom BY ZACH ALVIRA AFN Sports Editor
COMMUNITY...... 33 Dance Studio 111 slates a musical extravaganza.
SPORTS ............. 48 Desert Vista athletic director moving on to Mesa. COMMUNITY ............................ 33 BUSINESS ................................ 39 OPINION ................................. 44 SPORTS ................................... 48
A
picture of Jeremiah Aviles framed with signatures and messages from teammates, friends and family is always in sight for his mother, Olga Lopez. It hangs in her room in her Ahwatukee home alongside other pictures of her 18-yearold son, who was shot and killed in the early morning hours of Sunday, May 7, in East Mesa. At times, the picture of Jeremiah in his Red Mountain football uniform will go along with her. On May 22, she brought it to Kneaders Bakery in Ahwatukee, joined by Jeremiah’s older brother, Jamie Diaz, a former football player at Arizona State who lives with her, as did Jeremiah. Lopez and Diaz were finally breaking their silence about Jeremiah’s death. As she spoke, the heartbroken mother fought
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Last week brought more unrelenting heartbreak for Ahwatukee resident Olga Lopez and her son, Jamie Diaz, the mother and brother of 18-year-old Red Mountain High School football player Jeremiah Aviles, who was shot and killed May 7 by a teammate . Jeremiah would have graduated last Thursday and Lopez attended the ceremony with a poster with her slain son’s photo. i Lopez and Jamie hold a framed picture of Jeremiah with signatures and messages from friends written the night of a vigil held shortly after his slaying. (David Minton/AFN Staff Writer)
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