A small investment can pay great dividends over time. This is particularly true for long-term investments that serve the public, as the benefits they return are multiplied by our community’s increasing growth and prosperity.

Propositions 418 and 419 represent an opportunity for our community to make just such an investment. By voting yes on these companion measures, we can extend an existing half-cent sales tax to fund the next phase of our community’s Regional Transportation Plan, providing vital investments in transportation infrastructure that will pay public dividends for generations to come.

The vote won’t result in a tax increase; it would simply extend an existing half-cent tax that would otherwise expire in July 2026. So, for no additional cost, we can provide $2.69 billion in funding over 20 years to improve local roads and transit options. RTA Next also leverages public input, federal and state grants, and private investment to make the most of our local contributions.

As President and CEO of Tucson Electric Power, I oversee a local electric grid that has grown along with our community, thanks to investments over time that continue to provide great value to local residents and businesses. Similarly, RTA Next would ensure that our local transportation system can keep pace with our current and future needs.

Please vote yes to support this critical investment in our community’s future.

Susan Gray is the Chief Executive Officer of Tucson Electric Power and its parent company, UNS Energy