Tucson NewsNet Daily Digest - A Service of the City of Tucson
MAYOR AND COUNCIL APPROVE SALE OF BONDS TO FUND PUBLIC SAFETY PENSION OBLIGATION - Tucson's Mayor and Council last week approved the sale of Certificates of Participation (COPs) to fund the City’s growing obligation to the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System (PSPRS), which funds the pensions for fire and police personnel. The obligation currently stands at $1.5 billion and is projected to grow to a peak annual cost of $240 million to the City’s General Fund. The strategy addresses the long-term PSPRS obligation by borrowing money at unusually low interest rates to help fund the pension obligation. This has the potential to save the City more than $800 million over 25 years, reducing future burdens to the General Fund, preserving essential services, saving taxpayer dollars, and helping to stabilize the City’s financial future. Mayor and Council also created the City of Tucson Public Safety Pension Trust to manage, invest, and safeguard the bond proceeds. The trust also will have an independent investment advisor and trust administrator. Additionally, the trust will be audited as part of the City’s annual audit.
Read the news release
Mayor and Council agenda materials (item 11)
COMMUNITY MEETINGS CONTINUE THIS WEEK FOR THE CENTRAL BUSINESS DISTRICT - Tucson's Mayor and Council and the Office of Economic Initiatives (ConnectTucson) are hosting several virtual meetings this month to engage the community in co-creating a shared vision for the future of the Central Business District (CBD). Arizona statute ARS § 42-6209(c) grants the City of Tucson authority to abate property tax for up to eight years if a property is located within a designated CBD and meets other specific criteria that would improve the property for economic development purposes. The 90-minute meetings will inform the Mayor and Council about the future of the CBD boundaries and requirements for the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET). The next meetings are tomorrow, Jan. 12, at 11 a.m., hosted by Ward 5, and Wednesday, Jan. 13, at 5 p.m., hosted by Ward 6. Register for these and other sessions by following the link below.
Register for CBD sessions
ConnectTucson
COVID-19 MONDAY UPDATE - As of today, Jan. 11, Arizona now has 627,541 positive coronavirus cases, with 8,995 new cases reported today (down from 11,201 yesterday). The total number of cases includes people who have recovered. Of that number, 83,386 cases are in Pima County (up 1,189 from yesterday). There have been 10,147 COVID-19 deaths in Arizona (6 reported today), and 1,263 of those occurred in Pima County (0 reported today). The City of Tucson and Pima County remind you to always wear a mask in public and avoid socializing with anyone outside of your household during the pandemic.
Data Dashboard from the Arizona Department of Health Services
City of Tucson COVID-19 website
EGSD HOSTS VIRTUAL TOWN HALLS REGARDING GLASS - Starting Feb. 1, glass no longer will be accepted in Tucson's blue bin recycling program, but it instead will be collected at drop-off sites across the city. Tucson's Mayor and Council voted last November to remove glass from the blue barrel program and start a local glass reuse program. The City's Environmental and General Services Department (EGSD) is hosting three virtual town hall events for residents to learn more about the new program and why the glass decision was made. The town halls are open to the public and will be conducted via Zoom. Registration information can be found by following the link below.
EGSD glass reuse plan
FIRE STATION SAFETY (VIDEO) - Occupational cancer is taking the lives of many firefighters, but thanks to the investment in public safety made by taxpayers, Tucson fire stations are being modernized in an attempt to reduce toxic exposures. The Tucson Fire Department (TFD) lost two firefighters to occupational cancer in the past 10 years, including Captain Jacki DeHaro, who passed away this past June. In the KVOA story linked below, DeHaro's widow, retired TFD Assistant Chief Laura Baker, remarks on the importance these improvements will have for generations of Tucson firefighters to come.
Watch the story from KVOA
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