This is the second in a 14-part series. The election will be held on Nov. 5, to find your voting site log on to http://recorder.maricopa.gov
Proposition: To amend the Arizona Constitution to allow the exchange of "state trust land," which is land that was reserved for state use in 1910. This proposition looks to bring back an act that was deemed unconstitutional in 1990, in revised form, to allow these lands to be exchanged if that exchange benefits public institutions.
Background of the issue: The state currently controls approximately 9 million acres of "state trust land." This plan originated when Arizona first became a state. The revenue generated from the sale of this land was intended to benefit public institutions, such as schools, colleges and prisons. On both sides of the proposition are individuals and groups interested in conserving this land. Those against the proposition fear that the vague nature of the act will allow purchasers of the land to find loopholes and develop the land. In 1990, the State Supreme Court ruled these land exchanges unconstitutional. The measure to re-introduce land exchanges has appeared on the ballot in 1990, 1992, 1994 and 2000, but has failed each time.
Who proposed it: All 100-level propositions are proposed by the Arizona Legislature
Arguments for: Public hearings must be conducted so that everyone has an opportunity to voice their opinion, and the trust land that is exchanged must be conserved forever as open space. And since the land the state receives in trade must be of equal or greater value, the more money will go to public education.
— Penny Kotterman, President, Arizona Education Association, Phoenix; John Wright, Vice President, Arizona Education Association, Phoenix
Arguments against: "…Four similar land exchange measures have been voted down by the voters since 1990. This land exchange would give away hundreds of thousands of acres of existing public lands for future development, including nearly 200,000 acres near the Grand Canyon…While the measure says the exchange must include conservation, it does not say how much, leading to the possibility of exchanges that conserve a couple of acres while opening up the rest of the land for development. Proposition 101 would not guarantee adequate public review and input nor full environmental impact analysis."
—Geoff Barnard, President, Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff; Evelyn Sawyers, Deputy Secretary, Grand Canyon Trust, Flagstaff
Sources: 2002 Ballot Propositions & Judicial Performance Review; Arizona Secretary of State office.
Reach the reporter at megan.rudebeck@asu.edu.
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The Propositions |
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Prop 300: State School Trust Land Revenues Report Coming Soon |
Prop 301: Continuation of State Lottery to 2012 Report Coming Soon |
Prop 302: Legislation - Drug Treatment Enforcement Report Coming Soon |
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Prop 304: State Legislators' Salaries Report Coming Soon |
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