A ruling is expected soon on the legality of a 2017 voter initiative that would give Pinal County the authority to collect taxes and spend the funds on transportation infrastructure. 

Voters narrowly approved the initiative in 2017, but it was immediately challenged by a Casa Grande resident and the Goldwater Institute.

The half-cent sales tax would fund transportation projects throughout Pinal County.

Pinal Regional Transportation Authority General Manager Andy Smith says it hopes to use part of the money to connect communities in a north-south corridor, east of the Valley.

"Basically the south Side of Apache Junction, Florence, and Coolidge initially and then with hopes of going from Coolidge South To Eloy,” he said.

The case was argued before the state Court of Appeals in September, and Smith says he expects a ruling this month.

Pinal has been able to collect the tax in the meantime. Smith says there is about $27.3 million in an escrow account.