Arizona Tax Research Association | The Taxpayer's Watchdog Since 1940

Déjà vu: Brewer expresses possible support for another K-12 tax hike

A coalition seeking a voter-approved tax hike for education may have an ally in Gov. Jan Brewer, who gave her strongest signals yet that she may support the group’s proposed ballot measure.

The governor has been hesitant to take a position on the education coalition’s ballot initiative plans, which are tentative, at best.

But she opened the door a little wider this week, saying she is aware of the revenue drop-off the state will face when a billion-dollar-a-year tax expires in less than two years, and believes a new solution is necessary.

Arizona school funding gap grows between 'have', 'have-not' districts

The cracks in the school walls are still spreading. The fire alarms sound too often or don't sound at all. Mechanics struggle to keep old school buses running one more year. Budget managers try to figure out where the money will come from to fix leaky roofs, wheezing air-conditioners and broken vents.

Across Arizona, school districts struggle to find the funds to fix and maintain their buildings, in large part because state lawmakers over the past decade have countered laws and legal rulings meant to help all public-school facilities meet or exceed a basic standard.

Higley school district officials trying to sort out bond vote

Higley Unified School District officials are waiting to see how a bill does in the state Legislature that would temporarily increase bonded indebtedness for school districts before deciding whether it will ask voters to approve another bond in November.

House Bill 2405, which has been referred to the Senate Rules Committee, would fix a deficiency in a Senate bill passed last year to bring some relief to Higley and other school districts that can't touch already approved bond money because of declining real estate valuations.

Bill to curb municipal tax breaks for development projects advances in Az Senate

A Republican bill that would rein in a controversial tax break used by municipalities to entice large development projects that cities say they need is one step closer to being sent to the governor’s desk.
https://www.tucsonsentinel.com/local/report/031324_municipal_tax_breaks…

Republicans seek to curtail property tax breaks for big developments

Rep. Travis Grantham, R-Gilbert, wants to reduce the amount of time a property can receive a Government Property Lease Excise Tax, or GPLET for short, from eight years down to four years.

“Make no mistake about it…the underlying policy questions still remain and will remain after this bill,” McCarthy said, adding that the tool allows for cities to pick “winners and losers” in economic development.

2010 ATRA Outlook Conference

The highlight of ATRA’s Annual Meeting luncheon on November 19th was the presentation of the 2010 ATRA Watchdog Award to Senate President Bob Burns. Senator Burns is the seventh recipient of the award that ATRA instituted in 1990 as a way of recognizing an Arizona elected official for the often thankless job of opposing frivolous and wasteful spending of taxpayers’ dollars.

2011 ATRA Outlook Conference

ATRA selected Fritz Behring as the recipient of the J. Elliott Hibbs ATRA Good Government Award for 2011. The award was presented during ATRA's Annual Meeting Luncheon on Friday, November 18 at the Pointe Hilton Tapatio Cliffs Resort.

For the last 20 years, ATRA has recognized outstanding individuals whose work in the public sector is characterized by strong, continuing, and consistent efforts to spend taxpayers dollars wisely and to promote government that is efficient, open, and accountable.