Tucson 2021 Election Voter Guide: Minimum Wage Proposition 206

TUCSON, AZ — In the upcoming election, Tucson voters will decide who will represent three City Council wards, whether to increase the city's minimum wage and if the mayor and council members will get a raise.

The voter registration deadline for the Nov. 2 election was Oct. 4 and Tucson ballots were mailed Oct. 6. The last day to request a replacement ballot in the mail was Oct. 22. But qualified voters who didn't receive a ballot or damaged theirs can get one on Election Day.

The last recommended day to mail back your ballot is Wednesday.

Voters can drop their ballots or vote their ballots and drop them in the box at 800 E. 12th St. anytime from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. through Election Day. Voters can also return their ballot to a voting location no later than 7 p.m. on Election Day.

On Nov. 2, several voting locations will be open where Tuscon voters can drop off their voted mail ballot, vote their ballot and drop it in the ballot box or receive a replacement vote-by-mail ballot and cast it. All locations listed below are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Election Day.

They are:

• Department of Housing and Community Development, 310 N. Commerce Park Loop
• Morris K. Udall Regional Center, 7200 E. Tanque Verde Road
• Donna R. Liggins Recreation Center, 2160 N. 6th Ave.
• William Clements Recreation Center, 8155 E. Poinciana Drive
• El Pueblo Senior Center, 101 W. Irvington Road
• Parks and Recreation Administration at Randolph Park, 900 S. Randolph Way

Tucson City Council

Three candidates are running for the Ward 3 Tucson City Council seat.

Democrat Karin Uhlich, who is not running for reelection, currently represents Ward 3. She was appointed in March to serve the remainder of the term after fellow Democrat Paul Durham resigned due to personal reasons.

Running for the seat are Democrat Kevin Dahl, Republican Alan Harwell, Jr. and Independent Lucy Libosha.

Running for Tucson City Council Ward 5 are incumbent Democrat Richard Fimbres and write-in Republican candidate Shelley Cross. Fimbres has served on the Tucson City Council since 2009.

Running for Ward 6 are incumbent Democrat Steve Kozachik and Independent Val Romero. Kozachik has also been on the council since 2009.

Proposition 206

A "yes" vote for proposition 206 would increase Tucson's minimum wage to $13 per hour starting in April and continue incremental increases until reaching $15 per hour in 2025.

Minimum wage increases would continue at the start of each subsequent year based on the U.S. Bureau of Labor's Consumer Price Index. If it passes, the proposition would require large employers to pay a minimum of 3 hours of wages when an employee's shift is canceled with fewer than 24 hours notice. The proposition would also create a new city Department of Labor Standards to implement and enforce the new wage rules.

Proposition 410

If passed, Proposition 410 would increase the Tucson mayor's salary from $42,000 to $54,000 per year. It would also increase Tucson City Council Member salaries from $24,000 to $36,000 per year.

Mayor and council member salaries would continue to increase each subsequent year by the cost-of-living percentage increase recommended by the Consumer Price Index.

Vail Unified Maintenance and Operations Override

Votes in the Vail Unified School District will decide whether to approve the continuation of a 12.5 percent Maintenance and Operations Override. The override would be in effect for seven years.

The proposed total to be collected through the override in the first year is around $10.9 million.
Those funds would be used to maintain 126 teaching position paid through the existing override, including art, music and physical education teachers. It would also continue funding for special programs for advanced students, continue to reduce class sizes and fund tutoring, as well as fund additional staff to help student with counseling for academic and social-emotional development.