Dear Honorable Members of the Senate,

It is dismaying to learn of Senator Linda Gray’s proposal to eliminate the State Tax Reclassification program. This program gives tax reductions to historic properties that meet certain commitments to the maintenance of those properties.  It is an acknowledgement by the state of Arizona  that  1.) historic properties are difficult to maintain and  2.) the maintenance and preservation of our historical properties is deemed valuable to this state. 

According to David McCullough, “History is a guide to navigation in perilous times. History is who we are and why we are the way we are.”  These are perilous times in which all of us feel fearful and uncertain about our future.  Please don’t undermine us further by robbing  us of our sense of the past.

There are approximately 6,000 historic properties that would be affected by this ruling.  6,000 is not a very great number of houses, but it is a great number of pieces of history to lose.

On behalf of all Arizona citizens who are committed to historic preservation, we urge you to vote against SB 1166 this Wednesday.


Sincerely,