PIMA — Doing business in the Town of Pima could cost a little more in the near future.
During its most recent meeting, the Town Council discussed taxes, with Town Manager Vernon Batty explaining that a half-percent increase in sales tax could generate extra money for needed infrastructure repairs and improvements.
“Generally, when I talked to people they don’t mind paying sales tax,” Batty said. “They understand that if there’s a transaction in your town you pay that sales tax and that how you pay for roads (and) that’s how you pay for services.”
Pima’s sales tax is at 2 percent, while Safford and Thatcher both charge 2.5 percent.
The town collected almost $1.5 million in sales taxes in fiscal year 2024-25, and Batty estimated a half-percent increase would generate about $358,000 that could be dedicated entirely to road improvements, or split between multiple infrastructure improvements.
The council also discussed the town’s property tax — whether to keep the levy rate the same, increase the rate or eliminate the tax entirely. The council indicated it would prefer to keep the collection the same, budgeted for $15,000 for fiscal year 2025-26, which lowers the levy rate each year due to increasing home valuations.
Safford levies a property tax while Thatcher has no property tax.
The Town Council directed Batty to bring forward a proposed resolution on sales tax at a future meeting.
