A. Counties may be formed or divided either by legislative enactment, by statewide initiative pursuant to article IV, part 1, section 1, Constitution of Arizona, or by county initiative pursuant to this article. The requirements of this article, however, do not apply to counties formed or divided by legislative enactment or by statewide initiative.

Terms Used In Arizona Laws 11-132

  • Assessed valuation: means the net assessed valuation used for purposes of levying primary property taxes for the tax year immediately preceding the filing of the petition for the formation of counties. See Arizona Laws 11-131
  • Population: means the population according to the most recent United States decennial census. See Arizona Laws 1-215
  • Privately owned land: includes all lands other than federal, Indian, state, county, municipal and other governmental lands which are exempt from taxation under article IX, section 2, Constitution of Arizona. See Arizona Laws 11-131
  • Proposed county: means a county proposed by petition pursuant to section 11-133 to be formed from an affected county or counties but before an election on formation is held pursuant to section 11-137. See Arizona Laws 11-131
  • United States: includes the District of Columbia and the territories. See Arizona Laws 1-215

B. A county shall not be formed or divided by county initiative pursuant to this article unless each proposed county would have all of the following qualifications:

1. At least three-fourths of one per cent of the total state assessed valuation and at least the statewide per capita assessed valuation.

2. A population of at least three-fourths of one per cent of the total state population according to the most recent United States decennial census.

3. At least one hundred square miles of privately owned land.

4. Common boundaries with either:

(a) At least three other existing or proposed counties.

(b) At least two other existing or proposed counties and the state boundary.

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