Municipal and County Government

The Arizona Republic
Monday, March 30, 2009
Kevin McCarthy
The economic crisis facing Arizona is extraordinary. Arizona's unemployment is up to 7 percent, and 155,000 Arizonans lost their jobs in the past year. This economic collapse has led to a record state budget deficit.
The Arizona Republic
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Matt Benson
A coalition of 21 Arizona business groups has penned a letter to legislators, asking for a permanent repeal of a state property tax.
The East Valley Tribune
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Mark Flatten
The deep slide in East Valley home values is showing up in property tax assessments being mailed out to homeowners, but don't expect that to translate into a drop in your tax bill anytime soon, if ever.
The Arizona Republic
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
Craig Harris
With support from business groups and tax-reduction advocates, an Arizona House panel Monday approved a bill that would permanently repeal a statewide property tax. The move is projected to provide $250 million in annual tax relief.
Arizona Daily Star
Friday, February 13, 2009
Editorial Board
The Arizona Legislature should not welch on its deal to return some of the sales taxes we pay in Tucson to support Downtown redevelopment. Members of the Senate Finance Committee were sometimes sarcastic with Downtown redevelopment supporters during a hearing Wednesday in Phoenix. They also expressed disappointment with a presentation by Rio Nuevo Director Greg Shelko.
Capitol Media Services
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Howard Fischer
The recently ended state legislative session didn't bring much conclusion to several high-profile proposals affecting Arizona businesses. A tax cut they sought isn't going to happen. There will be no limits on medical-malpractice lawsuits. And the state is not going to try to set up its own guest-worker program to help firms struggling to find qualified workers.
Mohave Daily News
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
Paul Davenport
PHOENIX - The Arizona Legislature has tossed a political hot potato - the possible return of a suspended state property tax - to Democratic Gov. Janet Napolitano. A House-passed bill to repeal a suspended state property tax cleared the Arizona Senate with no votes to spare Tuesday as one Democrat joined all but two Republicans in voting for the bill. The bill (HB2220) would permanently repeal a state property tax to avoid having it automatically take effect again.
The Arizona Republic
Saturday, March 29, 2008
Doug MacEachern
For those of us looking under rocks for the nation's Next Great Financial Crisis - failing investment banks and spiraling home-mortgage disasters? Bah! - bankrupt cities suddenly look promising. Late last month, the city of Vallejo, Calif., came within hours of declaring bankruptcy, largely because it no longer could bear the weight of the salaries and retirement benefits it pays its employees.
Arizona Daily Star
Tuesday, March 11, 2008
Paul Davenport
PHOENIX — A business-backed Republican bill to permanently repeal a suspended state property tax has squeaked through the Arizona House with one vote to spare. The House approved the repeal bill Tuesday on a 32-28 vote largely along party lines. It takes a minimum of 31 votes for the 60-member House to pass a bill. The bill now goes to the Senate. The chief sponsor of that chamber’s version has acknowledged a Senate vote also would be a cliffhanger.
East Valley Tribune
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tribune Editorial
Queen Creek has put a lot of time and effort into preserving its small-town feel amid the waves of development washing east from Gilbert and north from Pinal County. But pushing back against such a tide can require a lot of money, even beyond the expected expenses of dealing with growth within its own borders.