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About the League: History of the League
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League Services | Organizational Structure | Executive Committee
Strategic Plan | History | League Staff
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The League of Arizona Cities and Towns was formed in 1937 as the Arizona
Municipal League, with a guiding principle that remains the modern League's
primary mission - home rule and local determination. In short, home rule and
local determination are the beliefs that local decisions are best made by local
decision makers and not by officials at some other level of government.
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The issue prompting the formation of the League was the Arizona Legislature's
reluctance to allow elected city and town officials reasonable discretion in
making decisions about their communities. The League's formation was the first
step in gaining city and town access to the State legislative process.
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But the establishment of the League did not gain immediate acceptance by the
State Legislature. There were some "hard times" when the League had to prove
itself as an organization.
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In 1942, a League-sponsored initiative was passed by the people of the State,
securing a 10 percent share of the State sales tax for cities and towns. This
successful initiative was met with disapproval by State legislators. A lawsuit
was filed, questioning the legitimacy of the League. The Arizona Supreme Court
ruled that it was unconstitutional for cities and towns to support the League
through payment of dues.
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The ruling was a serious financial blow to the League. However, a number of
mayors throughout Arizona believed that the League was such an important part of
local government that they funded the organization out of their own pockets for
six years until the Supreme Court reversed its decision.
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In the meantime, the League sponsored initiatives that resulted in shares of the
state gas tax and the state income tax being returned to cities and towns, along
with an increased share of state sales tax These initiative drives, backed by
the type of determination demonstrated by mayors and councilmembers who
themselves funded the League, have made the League a political force
representing viable local government.
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