PHOENIX — Maricopa County fire districts say a court decision could force them to cut essential services, rely on older equipment, or shut down fire stations after learning they owe millions of dollars in tax refunds because of a property tax dispute the fire districts didn’t cause.
The Arizona Fire & Medical Authority operates 12 fire stations, largely in unincorporated parts of the county and mainly serving senior communities in Sun City West and Sun Lakes. The Maricopa County Assessor and Treasurer both have websites now dedicated to the far-reaching impacts of the court decision.
“This is a situation that has occurred because of an error that the county assessor made in assessing properties, residential properties,” Flynn said. When asked if the county did everything it could to fight the lawsuit and judge’s ruling Cook said, “I wasn’t here when it happened. I believe that we could have been better.”