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Pima, Pinal counties may have to hike tax rates for court to decide legality of budget provision
Pima and Pinal counties may have to set their tax rates – and hike the levy on businesses and homeowners – before any court decides whether a provision in the state budget is legal.
Pima County sues state, saying it shifted burden to county taxpayers
Pima County sued the state of Arizona Monday to block a new budget provision the county says shifts tax burdens away from the state and on to county taxpayers.
Educators say legislative budget error could cost district charter schools millions
When lawmakers approved the state budget in March, they accidentally left out one key part. Because of the omission, several longstanding district-sponsored charter schools – public schools that have reorganized as charter schools to capture more state funding – will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in back payments.
Strong revenue showing raises questions about whether lawmakers acted too fast
The surprisingly strong showing in state revenue collections in April promptly revived questions surrounding the wisdom of rushing the budget’s passage earlier this year.
Pima prepares to sue over state budget
Pima County yesterday (April 7) authorized the hiring of an outside counsel to prepare a lawsuit alleging that a budget provision reducing property tax levies for some school districts is unconstitutional. Lobbyist Michael Racy told our reporter today (April 8) that the provision in S1476 (budget; BRB; K-12 education; FY2015-16) is especially hard on Pima County.
Ducey to critics: Where’s your alternative plan?
Ducey today (March 12) pushed back against criticisms leveled at the $9.1 billion spending plan he negotiated with lawmakers by digging up an oft-repeated counterclaim Brewer and her allies had deployed against those who had lambasted the 2013 Medicaid expansion.
Funding higher education in Arizona – the looming question
How many times are we going to watch this movie? State imposes budget cuts. Recipient fights back. Repeat. Play. Repeat. Play. We’re sick of this movie and have worked diligently to change the script.
Responsible budget puts Arizona on right track
Every election, it seems, politicians give lip service to the need for fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. But once they are in office, they lack the courage and resolve to actually achieve one. It’s always politically more convenient to spend more than we take in, hide growing debt and liabilities through clever accounting tricks, and leave the consequences for someone else to clean up[...]
Parents, grandparents, students aren’t fooled by the new state budget
Earlier this legislative session, many state lawmakers grilled Charles Flanagan – who was then director of the Department of Child Safety – about why reports of child neglect are still going up. They pointed fingers, made speeches and issued statements about how important it is to protect child safety and reduce child abuse and neglect.
The real budget casualties – nearly 1 million public school students
The state budget is approved, and many think the battle for public education is over for the year. This coming fall, with the implementation of this new budget, we will reach a crisis with one-half of Arizona’s school children having never attended a classroom fully funded as the voters mandated with the passing of Proposition 301 in 2000.
It’s hard to say ‘no’ to the governor
CCEC Executive Director Tom Collins didn’t anticipate Pierce’s SCR1001 (Clean Elections repeal; education funding) to stay dead forever, and he was right.
Regents chairman calling for lawsuit over university cuts
Saying the Arizona Constitution is being ignored, the chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents said Tuesday his colleagues should sue the Legislature if they do not come forward with more funds for the university system.
