Tucson Metro Chamber September Business Advocacy Update

As we close out September and gear up for a busy holiday and election season ahead, we want to keep you updated on our recent efforts and upcoming activities. Here’s a look at what your Business Advocacy Team has been working on, along with key policy updates and upcoming events!

Candidate Interviews Coming Soon!

The Chamber’s Business Advocacy team conducted interviews with candidates running for the Pima Community College Governing Board and Arizona Corporation Commission in September. These interviews, carried out by our diverse Candidate Evaluation Committee, will inform our upcoming Candidate Evaluation Guide, the second guide that we have released this year! Keep an eye out for this guide this week prior to the release of early ballots!

 If you have not taken a look at the Chamber’s candidate evaluation guide for Pima County Offices, we encourage you to read the candidates' written responses and watch their interviews here before November 5^th!

2024 Voter Guide Released

The Chamber is excited to announce the release of our 2024 Voter Guide! This guide addresses four critical items that will appear on your ballot, accompanied by the Chamber's carefully considered recommendations for Tucson's business community.

The Voter Guide is the product of a rigorous process behind each position where there was thorough staff review, scrutiny by our Public Policy Council, and a final approval from our Board of Directors.

This approach ensures that each stance in the guide genuinely reflects:

• The Chamber's unwavering commitment to fostering a thriving community
• Our dedication to creating a prosperous business environment
• The diverse needs and interests of our valued member businesses

 See the positions below and click here for the full guide!

Policy Updates and Upcoming Meetings

1. City of Tucson Safe and Vibrant City Ballot Package: The City of Tucson, like many other communities in Arizona, is preparing for a significant loss in state-shared revenues, amounting to nearly $400 million over the next 10 years. To address these challenges, the City is proposing a Safe & Vibrant City ballot package in a special election on March 11, 2025. The proposal would introduce a new transaction privilege tax within city limits, raising approximately $80 million annually over 10 years ($800 million total), allocated as follows:

The Chief of Staff for Mayor Regina Romero and the Tucson City Manager joined the Chamber’s Public Policy Council on Friday, October 4^th to discuss the sales tax in depth. Further details are provided in the City Manager’s Memorandum. Interested in joining the Public Policy Council, take five minutes to complete an application!

2. Plan Tucson Draft: The release of the official Plan Tucson draft document has been postponed for further revisions and upcoming community meetings have been canceled until further notice. Stay tuned for updates. You can read more about the plan here.

3. TEP Midtown Reliability Project: The Arizona Corporation Commission has approved TEP's Midtown Reliability Project, a project that the Chamber has strongly advocated for. TEP is aiming for completion by Summer 2027. However, there are ongoing discussions about overhead vs. underground power lines. Stay tuned for further updates or read more here!

4. City of Tucson Corridor Redevelopment: The city is exploring ways to encourage development on underutilized commercial corridor sites. Expect a draft of proposed changes in September, followed by community input and review in October and the months following. You can access the community meetings and survey results here.

5. HB2721 Implementation: The city is assessing middle housing opportunities within the central business district and surrounding areas. Community engagement and code amendments are planned for March to August 2025. Stay tuned for further updates!

6. Tucson Water Rate Adjustments: Last year, Tucson Water approved a 5.5% system-wide annual rate increase for FY24-FY27, along with seasonal rate adjustments to promote conservation among commercial and industrial users. The current proposed changes, however, are primarily driven by rising CAP costs. Starting in FY 2025, the Water Supply Fee will increase from $1.00 to $1.25 per unit. Tucson Water also recommends additional increases to commercial and industrial rate schedules to align with the previously approved 5.5% system-wide hikes. Read the memo here.

7. Metal Theft and Property Crimes: The Chamber understands the challenges businesses face daily, including the risk of property crimes. If your business has experienced significant property damage or theft of metals, such as those found in piping or conduit, please contact Stephanie at sspencer@tucsonchamber.org. The Chamber is actively addressing these issues with local partners, including law enforcement, to seek solutions and support for member businesses.

8. Outdoor Lighting Code Update: Fisher Marantz Stone has been hired to review Tucson and Pima County's Outdoor Lighting Code, aiming to align it with industry standards. A revised schedule will be posted soon, with implementation set for July 1, 2025. The Chamber thanks members who submitted feedback, which has thus far played a crucial role in shaping the code to meet business community needs.

Make Your Voice Heard in 2025!

Each year, the Chamber undertakes a comprehensive process to update its Public Policy Guide. Last year, we launched our first-ever membership listening tour, visiting every district in Pima County. This year, we decided to change things up! We brought our members together during the monthly Good Morning Tucson event to gather input directly. The Chamber’s Public Policy Council has been hard at work revising the guide, which serves as a roadmap for our advocacy efforts and showcases the Chamber’s work on behalf of its members.

Missed September’s Good Morning Tucson? We still want your feedback! Reach out to Zach and Stephanie from our Business Advocacy team at zyentzer@tucsonchamber.org and sspencer@tucsonchamber.org.

Chamber Advocates Training - October 30th

Mark your calendars! Our next Chamber Advocates Training is scheduled for October 30th at 5:00 PM. This is a crucial opportunity for our members to get involved in our advocacy efforts.

Chamber Advocates are Chamber members in good standing who play a vital role in our advocacy work. They:

• Inform and mobilize fellow Chamber members
• Join Chamber staff for key advocacy opportunities
• Co-advocate with us on important issues affecting our business community

When local legislators and policymakers hear directly from Chamber members about how their decisions impact businesses and the community, it brings real-world consequences into focus. This can be instrumental in pushing good policies across the finish line or preventing harmful ones from advancing.

We hold these training sessions quarterly to onboard new Advocates and update existing ones.

Register to attend the Chamber Advocates Training here!

Investing in Our Future

The Chamber President & CEO Michael Guymon recently joined Chair Adelita Grijalva, First Things First, and local community leaders for a panel discussion with U.S. Acting Secretary of Labor, Julie Su. The discussion was focused on advocating for the Pima Early Education Program Scholarship, which provides essential childcare support for families, allowing parents to pursue better employment opportunities. Recognizing that access to quality childcare is a major workforce barrier, the Chamber remains committed to championing creative solutions to address this issue. To learn more about the connection between childcare and workforce participation, check out the latest episode of The Business Of podcast.

Support Mining in Tucson

A new survey, commissioned by the Tucson Metro Chamber in collaboration with the Arizona Mining Association and the University of Arizona School of Mining and Mineral Resources, demonstrates strong public support for copper mining and mining education in Southern Arizona. Over 72% of voters back copper mining, with 53% supporting Hudbay Minerals’ Copper World project after learning more about it. The findings also show growing demand for enhanced mining education, and the importance of preparing Arizona’s future workforce. However, only 43% believe local government is doing enough to support economic development in the region.

Get Involved!

Your support is crucial in championing the interests of our local business community. We've made it easier than ever to contribute to our political action committee (PAC). Visit our new ChamberPAC page to learn more or donate.

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