City of Phoenix v. Kolodziejski
United States Supreme Court
399 U.S. 204 (1970)

- Written by Sean Carroll, JD
Facts
The City of Phoenix (defendant) sought to issue over $60 million in general-obligation bonds. Under Arizona law, Phoenix would pay for these bonds by raising property taxes. Phoenix held an election for the authorization of the bonds. An Arizona law restricted those who could vote on the authorization to those who owned real property and thus would pay the increased property taxes. Kolodziejski (plaintiff), who lived in Phoenix but did not own real property, sued the City of Phoenix, arguing that the disenfranchisement on this issue of non-real-property owners violated those owners’ Fourteenth Amendment rights. The court of appeals ruled that Phoenix did not have the authority to disenfranchise in this election those residents who did not own real property. The United States Supreme Court granted certiorari.
Rule of Law
Issue
Holding and Reasoning (White, J.)
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