A plan viewed by supporters as a second jobs bill cleared another legislative hurdle, but a provision expanding tax credits for new jobs might have to wait until next year.

The ink is barely dry on Arizona Competitiveness Package, but business groups and Republican lawmakers have at least one more batch of economic incentives they hope to push through the Legislature this session.

The delicate balancing act involved in changing Arizona’s property tax structure will leave some homeowners paying higher property taxes.

When the property-tax cuts in the jobs bill go into effect, the financial safety net school districts use may get significantly thinner. And the property tax cuts will be especially problematic for districts that already have reached or exceeded their bonding limits.

The annual futility of efforts either to abolish Arizona’s tax on business equipment and machinery or to increase the exemption has not deterred the many critics of the tax. This year’s version, HCR 2006, takes a novel approach to formulating ...

Portions of interviews with this week's newsmakers. This week with Doug Quelland, Rodney Glassman., Rep. Andy Tobin, Sen. David Shapira, and Gov. Jan Brewer.

Reducing taxes is attractive for those who pay and the GOP plan is good for business, bad for homeowners. Conceptually, it is very simple however: property tax revenue results from assessed valuations multiplied by tax rates.

The problem is the government spends money and then expects taxpayers to pay, similar to a spendthrift college student with a parent’s credit card.

Republican lawmakers and the governor are moving ahead with a tax-reduction plan they say would enable Arizona to attract more businesses and jobs to the state, even though the likely result would be a heavier tax burden for homeowners.

Brewer says her goal is to retain and attract businesses with steps intended to promote new investments and creation of quality jobs.

Senate Republicans will push for a slew of tax cuts for businesses next year, part of a package aimed at attracting companies to Arizona.