The Pima County Interfaith Council formally announced that it would be opposing Prop 200, the Public Safety that cops, firefighters, developers and real-estate agents are pushing on the November ballot in the city of Tucson.

City officials say the initiative, which forces the city to hire more cops and firefighters, would cost at least $50 million when fully implemented. Pima County Administrator Chuck Huckelberry has warned that higher court costs will increase county property taxes.

Here's PCIC's release:

PCIC supports the sustainable implementation of Public Safety goals that will make our city safe, healthy, and hospitable for current and future residents. Proposition 200 is not the way to attain these goals. We reaffirm the vision of Public Safety that has guided Tucson for many years, a vision that includes crime prevention, quality education, workforce development, and community infrastructure programs and in addition to fully-equipped and fully-staffed police and fire departments.

If Proposition 200 passes, Tucsonans will face the prospects of a gutted city budget, vital agencies and departments drastically cut or eliminated, taxes raised, funding for prevention programs that help keep our city safe killed. The City would have to cut family friendly child and youth programs and seniors could be stranded by the elimination of Van Tran. It will claim money for everything from job training to waste and water management. It will have unpredictable ripple effects on

the rest of Pima County—its residents, agencies, and infrastructure.

PCIC urges people to VOTE NO on Proposition 200. We challenge the backers of Proposition 200 to a constructive dialogue about our city’s goals for a broad-based definition of public safety, economic prosperity, and sustainability. Proposition 200 is not the way to move forward.

Pima County Interfaith Council leaders are committed to educate Tucsonans about the ripple effect of Prop 200.