(Photo via webcms.pima.gov)

Residents of Pima County should prepare for a tax increase next fiscal year.

Money is tight for Pima County. Residents will likely see their taxes go up in the coming fiscal year.

The county was hit with an extra $23 million in expenses this year as a result of the state shifting costs onto local government in an effort to balance the budget. In fact, add up all the revenue Pima County collects from property taxes and about a third of that goes to the state. 

All of this cost shifting amounts to a tax hike for residents of about $27 per year. Deputy County Administrator Tom Burke said it is frustrating because the county had actually balanced its budget, but then the Arizona Legislature came back for even more money this session.

“Basically, rather than having to raise state taxes, they're forcing us to raise taxes," said Burke. "It is really a difficult year for us to go to the people and say we need to raise taxes, mainly and really only so we can pay the state for its budget.”

Along with the tax increase, the county will have to cut backs services in areas like roadway maintenance, libraries and support to Banner University Medical Center. 

County supervisors are holding a hearing on Tuesday to look at the proposed budget.