Brewer, league compromise on sales tax reform, but still no deal
Gov. Jan Brewer made a major concession to her transaction privilege tax reform bill that eliminates the most contentious provision, but that wasn’t enough to get the League of Arizona Cities and Towns on board.
With a legal challenge pending, consolidated elections still isn’t a sure thing
Although cities are concerned about how they will comply with the changes resulting from consolidated elections, all the worry may be for naught, at least for charter cities, if a legal challenge against the law is successful.
Fixes for consolidated elections stall, leaving cities in dark about when to hold elections
When voters in Tucson and Phoenix went to the polls to elect their mayors in 2011, voters elected them for four years. But a bill passed last year by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jan Brewer may extend the mayors’ time in office by a year. Or it may shorten their terms by a year. Nobody is sure which one it will be.
Tax simplification should not hurt cities
The East Valley Partnership recognizes the need to streamline and improve our state’s tax system. That is why we support the major tenets of Gov. Jan Brewer’s plan to reform Arizona’s Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) that is currently burdensome for businesses and puts local merchants at a disadvantage to out-of-state Internet retailers.
House approves photo radar restrictions
Speedy drivers and red light runners cruising down state highways wouldn’t have to watch out for those white photo radar boxes and flashes of light anymore if a bill approved by the House on Monday becomes law.
Time to come to agreement on TPT reform
One of the most controversial bills in this year’s legislative session is HB2657, TPT reform. The TPT (Transaction Privilege Tax) is Arizona’s sales tax program, and it has been more than 80 years in the making. Last year, Gov. Jan Brewer appointed a task force to examine ways to make the system simpler for businesses to comply with.
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.