ATRA in the News
Proposition 302 would redirect 80 cents of our current tobacco taxes that are earmarked for the Early Childhood Development and Health fund to the state general fund to be appropriated for health and human services for children.
The recession has brought into focus for many taxpayers the debt burdens of cities across the state, said Kevin McCarthy, president of the Arizona Tax Research Association.
But it comes at the expense of homeowners whose school districts don't have those extra expenses, said Kevin McCarthy, executive director of the Arizona Tax Research Association, a business-backed group that lobbied for the change.
The Arizona Republic published an excellent article summarizing the many issues surrounding taxation of internet transactions (‘Internet sales tax eyed for Arizona,” Business, July 18).
Task force member Kevin McCarthy called basing the bid for independence on more rural college money a “colossal waste of time.”
At the general election in November, Prop 302 will ask voters if they want to continue using tobacco taxes to fund early childhood development and health programs through the voter-approved program known as First Things First.
Kros said the money involved was insignificant and not a factor in the league's support of RDS. Nevertheless, the Arizona Tax Research Association pushed unsuccessfully this spring for a ban of the use of companies such as RDS.
Supporters in general ranged from the Arizona Tax Research Association to labor unions, an unusual alliance of low-tax lobbyists and groups that push for better pay for state employees.
The Arizona Legislature adjourned sine die on April 29, and the policy achievements of the 49th Legislature get a mixed review from a taxpayer’s perspective. Faced with a multibillion-dollar budget deficit, the Legislature and Gov. Jan Brewer were able to pass a fiscal 2011 budget that marked the first meaningful progress to reduce state spending.
They were vastly outspent by supporters, who poured about $2 million into the effort, and who drew on interest groups as diverse as the Arizona Education Association, state chambers of commerce and the fiscally conservative Arizona Tax Research Association.
Americans for Prosperity says Arizona spent over $9000 per student last year, but Arizona Tax Research Association says that number is $6000 and according to the education association
"On either measure, we rank in the middle of overall state and local taxes. I would characterize us as being an average-taxed state," said McCarthy, who is endorsing the sales-tax proposal.
Kevin McCarthy of the Arizona Tax Research Association said the city's increase in operation debt shows the danger of not going to voters for general obligation bonds, which , once approved, have their own funding source from secondary property taxes.
The Arizona Tax Research Association, a group that historically opposes tax increases, is supporting Prop. 100. The Tribune — like ATRA — is supporting the sales tax increase but would like to see further budget cuts
“We’re a very high sales tax state. Our rankings in that category — as they have for the last 25 years — we always rank in the top 10 in sales tax, but on the flip side, low in income (taxes) and mid-range on property (taxes),” said Kevin McCarthy of the Arizona Tax Research Association.
The business community stands solidly behind Proposition 100. Every major business organization, from the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry to the Southern Arizona Leadership Council to the Arizona Tax Research Association has endorsed Proposition 100.
ATRA's decision to support the tax increase was not an easy one. In fact, for the last year, ATRA conditioned its support for the temporary tax increase on meaningful progress in reducing the state deficit through reductions in on- going spending.
Supporters of education are behind it, as are many business people - with even the fiscally conservative Arizona Tax Research Association signed on with state and local chambers.
Check out the combined-tax chart prepared by the Arizona Tax Research Association using data from the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and the Arizona Department of Revenue, at www.arizonatax.org /publications/sales_tax_ rates/retail.pdf.
Arizona Tax Research Association conditioned its support on a requirement that the state continue to cut spending. Even if the tax passes and raises its estimated $1 billion a year, Arizona's budget still has a structural deficit of $2 billion, the group said in issuing its endorsement.
McCarthy, ATRA’s long-time president, has considerable knowledge on public finance and taxation. He currently serves on the Property Tax Oversight Commission, Debt Oversight Commission, and Joint Legislative Committee on Property Tax.
Kevin McCarthy, president of the Arizona Tax Research Association, a longtime tax foe who supports Prop. 100, said the budget crisis is too severe to vote down a temporary tax hike.
However, others like Glenn Hammer, president and CEO of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Kevin McCarthy of the Arizona Tax Research Association both believe the tax to be a necessity.
The Arizona Tax Research Association took a neutral stance. Executive Director Kevin McCarthy said an accelerated depreciation schedule for business property is a good aspect of the bill.
The state must get its financial house in better order. Indeed, it is with such caveats that the Arizona Tax Research Association supports Proposition 100.
Kevin McCarthy, president of the non-profit Arizona Tax Research Association, a business-funded tax watchdog group, said taxpayers should be aware of the skyrocketing costs of retirement benefits and rising salaries for government workers.
What you get depends on what kind of place your city has set out to be
In a tough economy, as cities struggling with budgets blown out by the recession start to raise taxes and reduce services, it's a good time for residents to take stock of what they are getting for their tax money, says Kevin McCarthy
ATRA President Kevin McCarthy wrote on the Yes on 100 Web site, “ATRA views the temporary tax as a management tool that will hopefully decrease the use of damaging budget gimmicks over the next three years.