The County has pledged taxpayer money and government-owned property to fund a private luxury tourism business. The scheme violates the Arizona Constitution's prohibition on government lending or giving taxpayer money. It was also negotiated in secret, without the required competitive bidding.

Last Step

Goldwater attorneys sent Pima County officials a demand letter March 28, 2016, explaining why the balloon project is illegal.

Next Step

Goldwater attorneys filed the lawsuit on April 14, 2016. The County has 20 days to respond.

What happened to bring about this challenge?

After six months of secret negotiations (under the codename "Project Curvature"), Pima County officials signed off on a deal to build a headquarters and high-altitude balloon pad for a private company called World View Enterprises. The deal puts government-owned buildings up for collateral, and devotes the money to building a 135,000 square-foot headquarters and 700-foot diameter balloon pad that the company will use for its high-altitude balloon launching business.