Sign In
Free Newsletter
Mesa mayor says lifting bonds’ tax-exempt status could hurt cities
WASHINGTON – While much of Washington is focused on the impact of Friday’s “sequestration” cuts, Mesa Mayor Scott Smith is worried that a proposed solution to that problem could end up seriously hurting cities.
The new frontier of union busting
A state representative has a plan to force local public entities to vote on what the Legislature couldn’t last year: whether to stop the automatic deductions from public employees’ paychecks for union dues.
Cities, counties urge Brewer to veto consolidated elections bill
Dozens of local and county officials are asking Gov. Jan Brewer to veto a bill that would force cities to consolidate their elections dates with the state.
They argued that HB2826 would stamp out local control, politicize non-partisan elections and increase election costs.
U.S. mayors report forecasts slow recovery for Arizona metro areas
Arizona’s metro areas are at least four years away from returning to pre-recession employment levels, according to a report issued Wednesday.
Lawmaker proposes bill allowing cities to ban sale of legal fireworks
Saying cities in his district are worried about the threat of forest fires, a state lawmaker wants to give municipalities authority to ban the sale of fireworks made legal under a state law that took effect last year.
Bill would give religious groups more freedom to open churches
The Arizona Legislature is advancing a bill that would allow churches anywhere non-religious groups are permitted to operate, despite opposition from city officials who fear the bill would create a host of practical and legal problems.
Budget plan shifts cost of jailing juveniles to cities, counties
Lawmakers are tossing around a budget plan that would shutter the Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections, put counties in charge of incarcerating juveniles and shift some of the cost to municipalities.
Phoenix-area cities paying retention bonuses
Cities in metro Phoenix are paying millions of dollars in retention bonuses as they lay off employees, cut pay or raise taxes amid the recession. Compensation experts question the wisdom of retention bonuses as the state's 9.3 percent unemployment rate has drastically reduced turnover. Cities defend the bonuses as an incentive to retain employees and make up for stagnant wages.
