Income tax is toxic to Arizona’s economy
States across the U.S. — including Arizona — are facing major budgetary challenges: 32 are dealing with budget gaps, and many governors are calling for more revenue by raising income taxes, broadening sales taxes, and hiking fees on everything from state park entries to hospital stays.
Arizona continues slide, now at 41st in per capita personal income
Arizona is now in the Bottom 10 of all states for per capita personal income, the result of the jobs here paying less than those being created in the rest of the country.
Experts: Arizona tourism hasn’t fully recovered, but has seen ‘moderate’ improvement
Arizona’s Office of Tourism escaped initial plans to cut $4.5 million from next year’s budget, a move industry lobbyist Barry Aarons called a “big victory for the industry.”
Ducey wants state to lead in solar jobs
Gov. Doug Ducey stressed the importance of solar energy and a diverse mix of energy resources in growing the state’s economy during a speech on March 4.
Transforming the economy of Arizona
The governor’s State of the State Address and the newly released report, Velocity: A Blueprint for Transforming Greater Phoenix into an Innovation Economy, focus on economic development for the state and the region. I’ve read both with a great deal of interest.
Tourism officials say even in tight times, state promotion is smart economics
People across the country and around the world flock to Arizona to gaze into the vast depths of the Grand Canyon and bask in mild winters while attending some of the largest sporting events of the year, including the occasional Super Bowl.
Voters share what’s on their minds as Election Day approaches
Most of those who identified themselves as independents see themselves as conservative or liberal. Most say they want to know who is funding political ads but don’t believe those ads affect their decisions as voters.
The Arizona comeback? Temporary success yields to more financial turmoil
It’s looking less like a great comeback and more like an arduous climb out of Dante’s purgatory. While Gov. Jan Brewer often talks about Arizona’s “success story” and how the state is now among the best places in the nation to do business, the truth is that Arizona is once more in deep fiscal trouble.
Next governor will have few options in dealing with $1 billion deficit
Like Gov. Jan Brewer in 2009, the winner of the gubernatorial race between Republican Doug Ducey and Democrat Fred DuVal will find himself in the unenviable position of trying to erase a massive budget deficit. Legislative fiscal analysts say the state is expected to face a $520 million deficit for the current fiscal year and will be in a $1 billion hole in fiscal year 2016, which begins next July[...]
Arts contribute to a healthy Arizona economy
As Arizonans sharpen their focus on the actions that will enable our state to become more competitive, emerging evidence points to the profound economic impact of arts and culture organizations. In fact, the arts not only enrich our community, but they contribute to a healthy economy.
Arizona lost private sector jobs in May
Arizona lost 800 private sector jobs last month as the state continues to find its financial footing to finally recover from the recession.
Demands on Central Arizona Project rise rapidly as it approaches capacity
The Central Arizona Project was responsible for nearly 25 percent of Arizona’s total gross state product between 1986 and 2010 and supplied more than a million jobs annually in 2010, according to a study by the L. William Seidman Research Institute at Arizona State University.