Proposition debate: Ripoffs or reforms?

Needed reform — or consumer ripoff?

Protections for homeowners — or lawyers?

Relief for business — or a cover-up for lawbreakers?

An overdue raise — or a big waste of money?

These questions raised by sometimes controversial, always confusing ballot measures provoked a lively discussion recently during a community forum meeting in Payson’s Democratic Party Headquarters.

Prop. 201: Homeowners rights

Proposition 201, the Homeowners Bill of Rights, would establish a 10-year warranty on new homes. According to the legislative analysis, the law would allow prospective buyers to sue over construction defects in homes. It would also ban arbitration and other means of settling problems besides going to court.

“The Homeowners Bill of Rights is based on the notion that if you buy a house and it turns out to be poorly built, you should be able to do something about it,” wrote representatives from Interfaith Worker Justice.

Opponents include the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, which wrote, the measure would increase the cost of homes.

Payson Realtor Cliff Potts said, “I’m afraid of it.” He worried that the 10-year statute of limitations on lawsuits was excessive.

Bob Dalby, also of Payson, said that sometimes the newest, thought-to-be best materials are used on a house, only for homeowners and builders to discover later that the materials cause problems. “Sometimes it’s not the builder’s fault,” Dalby said.