BILL #    HB 2726

TITLE:     severance tax; distribution; cities; towns

SPONSOR:    Martinez

STATUS:   As Introduced

PREPARED BY:    Hans Olofsson

 

 

 

Description

 

HB 2726, as introduced, would allocate 2.5% of the distribution base for the severance tax on metalliferous metals to cities and towns with a population of less than 15,000 that are not located in the counties of Maricopa and Pima (hereafter referred to as "rural counties").  The bill would become effective on July 1, 2023.

 

Estimated Impact

 

The bill is estimated to reduce the distribution of the severance tax to the General Fund by $(245,600) in FY 2024. The reduction in state revenues distributed to counties is estimated to be $(288,500).  While the total distribution of state revenues to municipalities would increase by net amount of $534,200 under the bill, the impact by city would vary depending on the population and location of the city, as displayed in Table 1 below.

 

Table 1

 

Impact of HB 2726 on State Revenue Distribution to Cities/Towns

 

 

 

Distribution

Distribution

 

City Population

County

Current Law

HB 2726

Difference

< 15,000

Maricopa/Pima

$83,100

$81,100

$(2,000)

< 15,000

Rural counties

$253,400

$959,300

$705,900

> 15,000

All counties

$6,785,500

$6,615,800

$(169,700)

Net Impact

 

$7,122,000

$7,656,200

$534,200

 

 

 

 

 

 

As shown in Table 1, the distribution to cities with a population of less than 15,000 and located in rural counties would increase by $705,900 whereas cities with a population of less than 15,000 that are and located in Maricopa/Pima and all cities with a population of 15,000 or more regardless of location would incur a combined revenue loss of $(171,700). Therefore, the total impact on all municipalities in the state would be a net revenue increase of $534,200.         

 

The change in the distribution of the severance tax by city is shown in the Local Government Impact section below.

 

Analysis

 

Under current law, 80% of the severance tax on copper and other metals is allocated to the distribution base and the remaining 20% to the General Fund.  Of the 80% allocated to the distribution base, 25% is distributed to municipalities, 40.51% to counties and the remaining 34.49% to the General Fund.

 

The bill would allocate 2.5% of the severance tax designated as distribution base to cities and towns with a population of less than 15,000 located in rural counties.  These monies would be allocated to each such city and town in proportion to its share of the total population among those cities/towns.

 

(Continued)

The amount remaining after the 2.5% allocation would be distributed to all municipalities, counties, and the General Fund based on the current statutory distribution formula, as described above.  This means that cities with a population of less than 15,000 located in rural counties would effectively receive 2 types of distributions:  (1) an additional 2.5% of the severance tax designated as distribution base plus (2) the regular distribution but from a 2.5% smaller distribution base.   

 

Severance tax revenue is highly correlated with the price of copper and for this reason it tends to fluctuate considerably over time.  For the purpose of this analysis, we have assumed that FY 2024 severance tax revenue will be at the same level as in FY 2021 when it was $35.6 million.  The distribution base is therefore estimated to be $28.5 million [= $35.6 million x 80%]. 

 

Under the proposal, 2.5% of the distribution base, or $712,200, would first be distributed to cities and towns with a population of less than 15,000 located in rural counties.  The remaining $27.8 million of the distribution base would be allocated based on the current statutory distribution formula. 

 

The $(712,200) smaller distribution base under the bill would have the effect of reducing General Fund revenue by $(245,600) [= $(712,200) x 34.49%] in 2024; county-shared revenue by $(288,500) [= $(712,200) x 40.51%]; and city-shared revenue by $(178,100) [= $(712,200) x 25%].  The $(178,100) revenue reduction would be shared by all municipalities in proportion to their share of the total population while cities with a population of less than 15,000 located in rural counties would receive additional revenues of $712,200.  The net revenue impact on all municipalities would therefore be $534,200 [= 712,200 - 178,100].          

 

Local Government Impact

 

The change in the distribution of severance tax by city is displayed in the table on pages 3 and 4.  As shown in the table, cities with a population of less than 15,000 located in rural counties would receive additional distributions totaling $712,200 under the bill.  The smaller distribution base under the bill would reduce allocations to all municipalities from $7,122,000 to $6,943,900, or by $(178,100).  For cities with a population of less than 15,000 located in rural counties, the regular distribution would be reduced from $253,400 to $247,100, or by $(6,300).  This means that the overall net impact on such cities would be $705,900 [= $712,200 in additional distributions - $6,300 in reduced regular distributions]. 

 

 

2/10/22


 

City/Town

County

Population

% of Total Population

Regular Distribution - Current Law

Additional Distribution - HB2726

Reduced Regular Distribution – HB2726

Total Distribution - HB 2726

Change in Distribution

Apache Junction

Maricopa

42,571

0.74%

$52,352

$0

$51,043

$51,043

($1,309)

Avondale

Maricopa

87,931

1.52%

$108,134

$0

$105,430

$105,430

($2,703)

Benson

Cochise

4,880

0.08%

$6,001

$16,866

$5,851

$22,717

$16,716

Bisbee

Cochise

5,225

0.09%

$6,425

$18,058

$6,265

$24,323

$17,897

Buckeye

Maricopa

79,620

1.37%

$97,913

$0

$95,465

$95,465

($2,448)

Bullhead City

Mohave

40,884

0.71%

$50,277

$0

$49,020

$49,020

($1,257)

Camp Verde

Yavapai

11,187

0.19%

$13,757

$38,663

$13,413

$52,076

$38,319

Carefree

Maricopa

3,927

0.07%

$4,829

$0

$4,709

$4,709

($121)

Casa Grande

Pinal

58,632

1.01%

$72,103

$0

$70,301

$70,301

($1,803)

Cave Creek

Maricopa

5,838

0.10%

$7,179

$0

$7,000

$7,000

($179)

Chandler

Maricopa

261,165

4.51%

$321,170

$0

$313,140

$313,140

($8,029)

Chino Valley

Yavapai

12,375

0.21%

$15,218

$42,769

$14,838

$57,607

$42,388

Clarkdale

Yavapai

4,391

0.08%

$5,400

$15,176

$5,265

$20,440

$15,041

Clifton

Greenlee

3,708

0.06%

$4,560

$12,815

$4,446

$17,261

$12,701

Colorado City

Mohave

4,836

0.08%

$5,947

$16,714

$5,798

$22,512

$16,565

Coolidge

Pinal

13,130

0.23%

$16,147

$45,378

$15,743

$61,121

$44,975

Cottonwood

Yavapai

12,253

0.21%

$15,068

$42,347

$14,692

$57,039

$41,971

Dewey Humboldt

Yavapai

4,137

0.07%

$5,088

$14,298

$4,960

$19,258

$14,171

Douglas

Cochise

16,193

0.28%

$19,913

$0

$19,416

$19,416

($498)

Duncan

Greenlee

788

0.01%

$969

$2,723

$945

$3,668

$2,699

Eagar

Apache

4,941

0.09%

$6,076

$17,076

$5,924

$23,001

$16,925

El Mirage

Maricopa

35,753

0.62%

$43,968

$0

$42,868

$42,868

($1,099)

Eloy

Pinal

19,625

0.34%

$24,134

$0

$23,531

$23,531

($603)

Flagstaff

Coconino

75,038

1.30%

$92,279

$0

$89,972

$89,972

($2,307)

Florence

Pinal

27,422

0.47%

$33,722

$0

$32,879

$32,879

($843)

Fountain Hills

Maricopa

25,200

0.44%

$30,990

$0

$30,215

$30,215

($775)

Fredonia

Coconino

1,281

0.02%

$1,575

$4,427

$1,536

$5,963

$4,388

Gila Bend

Maricopa

2,100

0.04%

$2,582

$0

$2,518

$2,518

($65)

Gilbert

Maricopa

254,114

4.39%

$312,499

$0

$304,686

$304,686

($7,812)

Glendale

Maricopa

252,381

4.36%

$310,367

$0

$302,608

$302,608

($7,759)

Globe

Gila

7,347

0.13%

$9,035

$25,392

$8,809

$34,201

$25,166

Goodyear

Maricopa

86,840

1.50%

$106,792

$0

$104,122

$104,122

($2,670)

Guadalupe

Maricopa

6,631

0.11%

$8,155

$0

$7,951

$7,951

($204)

Hayden

Gila

631

0.01%

$776

$2,181

$757

$2,937

$2,161

Holbrook

Navajo

5,084

0.09%

$6,252

$17,571

$6,096

$23,666

$17,414

Huachuca City

Cochise

1,736

0.03%

$2,135

$6,000

$2,081

$8,081

$5,946

Jerome

Yavapai

455

0.01%

$560

$1,573

$546

$2,118

$1,559

Kearny

Pinal

2,168

0.04%

$2,666

$7,493

$2,599

$10,092

$7,426

Kingman

Mohave

31,013

0.54%

$38,138

$0

$37,185

$37,185

($953)

Lake Havasu City

Mohave

55,865

0.96%

$68,700

$0

$66,983

$66,983

($1,718)

Litchfield Park

Maricopa

6,436

0.11%

$7,915

$0

$7,717

$7,717

($198)

Mammoth

Pinal

1,687

0.03%

$2,075

$5,830

$2,023

$7,853

$5,779

Marana

Pima

49,030

0.85%

$60,295

$0

$58,788

$58,788

($1,507)

Maricopa

Pinal

52,127

0.90%

$64,104

$0

$62,501

$62,501

($1,603)

Mesa

Maricopa

518,012

8.94%

$637,029

$0

$621,103

$621,103

($15,926)

Miami

Gila

1,780

0.03%

$2,189

$6,152

$2,134

$8,286

$6,097

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

City/Town

County

Population

% of Total Population

Regular Distribution - Current Law

Additional Distribution - HB2726

Reduced Regular Distribution – HB2726

Total Distribution - HB 2726

Change in Distribution

Nogales

Santa Cruz

20,103

0.35%

$24,722

$0

$24,104

$24,104

($618)

Oro Valley

Pima

46,044

0.80%

$56,623

$0

$55,207

$55,207

($1,416)

Page

Coconino

7,529

0.13%

$9,259

$26,021

$9,027

$35,048

$25,789

Paradise Valley

Maricopa

14,637

0.25%

$18,000

$0

$17,550

$17,550

($450)

Parker

La Paz

3,207

0.06%

$3,944

$11,084

$3,845

$14,929

$10,985

Patagonia

Santa Cruz

874

0.02%

$1,075

$3,021

$1,048

$4,069

$2,994

Payson

Gila

15,813

0.27%

$19,446

$0

$18,960

$18,960

($486)

Peoria

Maricopa

175,961

3.04%

$216,389

$0

$210,980

$210,980

($5,410)

Phoenix

Maricopa

1,680,992

29.03%

$2,067,212

$0

$2,015,532

$2,015,532

($51,680)

Pima

Graham

2,558

0.04%

$3,146

$8,841

$3,067

$11,908

$8,762

Pinetop-Lakeside

Navajo

4,469

0.08%

$5,496

$15,445

$5,358

$20,804

$15,308

Prescott

Yavapai

44,299

0.76%

$54,477

$0

$53,115

$53,115

($1,362)

Prescott Valley

Yavapai

46,515

0.80%

$57,202

$0

$55,772

$55,772

($1,430)

Quartzsite

La Paz

3,763

0.06%

$4,628

$13,005

$4,512

$17,517

$12,889

Queen Creek

Maricopa

50,890

0.88%

$62,582

$0

$61,018

$61,018

($1,565)

Safford

Graham

9,983

0.17%

$12,277

$34,502

$11,970

$46,472

$34,195

Sahuarita

Pima

31,421

0.54%

$38,640

$0

$37,674

$37,674

($966)

San Luis

Yuma

34,778

0.60%

$42,768

$0

$41,699

$41,699

($1,069)

Scottsdale

Maricopa

258,069

4.46%

$317,362

$0

$309,428

$309,428

($7,934)

Sedona

Coconino

10,339

0.18%

$12,714

$35,732

$12,397

$48,129

$35,414

Show Low

Navajo

11,442

0.20%

$14,071

$39,544

$13,719

$53,263

$39,193

Sierra Vista

Cochise

43,045

0.74%

$52,935

$0

$51,612

$51,612

($1,323)

Snowflake

Navajo

5,995

0.10%

$7,372

$20,719

$7,188

$27,907

$20,535

Somerton

Yuma

16,554

0.29%

$20,357

$0

$19,848

$19,848

($509)

South Tucson

Pima

5,715

0.10%

$7,028

$0

$6,852

$6,852

($176)

Springerville

Apache

1,978

0.03%

$2,432

$6,836

$2,372

$9,208

$6,775

St. Johns

Apache

3,512

0.06%

$4,319

$12,138

$4,211

$16,349

$12,030

Star Valley

Gila

2,308

0.04%

$2,838

$7,977

$2,767

$10,744

$7,906

Superior

Pinal

3,178

0.05%

$3,908

$10,983

$3,810

$14,794

$10,886

Surprise

Maricopa

141,664

2.45%

$174,212

$0

$169,857

$169,857

($4,355)

Taylor

Navajo

4,321

0.07%

$5,314

$14,934

$5,181

$20,115

$14,801

Tempe

Maricopa

195,805

3.38%

$240,793

$0

$234,773

$234,773

($6,020)

Thatcher

Graham

5,200

0.09%

$6,395

$17,972

$6,235

$24,206

$17,812

Tolleson

Maricopa

7,372

0.13%

$9,066

$0

$8,839

$8,839

($227)

Tombstone

Cochise

1,303

0.02%

$1,602

$4,503

$1,562

$6,066

$4,463

Tucson

Pima

548,073

9.46%

$673,997

$0

$657,147

$657,147

($16,850)

Tusayan

Coconino

580

0.01%

$713

$2,005

$695

$2,700

$1,987

Wellton

Yuma

3,044

0.05%

$3,743

$10,520

$3,650

$14,170

$10,427

Wickenburg

Maricopa

8,092

0.14%

$9,951

$0

$9,702

$9,702

($249)

Willcox

Cochise

3,533

0.06%

$4,345

$12,210

$4,236

$16,446

$12,102

Williams

Coconino

3,248

0.06%

$3,994

$11,225

$3,894

$15,120

$11,125

Winkleman

Pinal

351

0.01%

$432

$1,213

$421

$1,634

$1,202

Winslow

Navajo

9,338

0.16%

$11,483

$32,273

$11,196

$43,469

$31,986

Youngtown

Maricopa

6,859

0.12%

$8,435

$0

$8,224

$8,224

($211)

Yuma

Yuma

98,285

1.70%

$120,867

$0

$117,845

$117,845

($3,022)

TOTAL

 

5,791,407

100.00%

$7,122,025

$712,202

$6,943,974

$7,656,176

$534,152