Arizona Tax Research Association
Arizona Daily Star
PHOENIX — Backers of extending the state’s temporary 1-cent sales tax submitted more than 290,000 signatures Monday to put the issue on the November ballot.
But at this point all they’ve really done is guaranteed a court fight.
Backers of the Quality Education and Jobs initiative said the state cannot afford to give up the $1 billion a year that will go away once the voter-approved tax ends this coming May. The measure, if approved, would make the levy permanent, with a specific set of instructions of how the money is divided.
But at this point all they’ve really done is guaranteed a court fight.
Backers of the Quality Education and Jobs initiative said the state cannot afford to give up the $1 billion a year that will go away once the voter-approved tax ends this coming May. The measure, if approved, would make the levy permanent, with a specific set of instructions of how the money is divided.
The Arizona Republic
The already simmering battle over a permanent sales-tax increase heated up a few degrees Monday as supporters filed petitions to put the matter on the November ballot.
Backers of the Quality Education and Jobs initiative filed the signatures of more than 290,000 registered voters with the Arizona secretary of state. But whether the measure to permanently increase the state sales tax by 1 cent per dollar will get before voters remains unclear.
Backers of the Quality Education and Jobs initiative filed the signatures of more than 290,000 registered voters with the Arizona secretary of state. But whether the measure to permanently increase the state sales tax by 1 cent per dollar will get before voters remains unclear.
The Arizona Republic
Even before any petitions have been filed, a legal fight is brewing over a proposed sales-tax hike for education.
Critics of the proposal for a permanent 1-cent-per-dollar increase in the tax noticed the petition being circulated to voters is different from the official version pre-filed earlier this year with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.
That could bar Secretary of State Ken Bennett from accepting the petitions that the Quality Education & Jobs backers are preparing to file, Bennett spokesman Matt Roberts said.
Critics of the proposal for a permanent 1-cent-per-dollar increase in the tax noticed the petition being circulated to voters is different from the official version pre-filed earlier this year with the Arizona Secretary of State's Office.
That could bar Secretary of State Ken Bennett from accepting the petitions that the Quality Education & Jobs backers are preparing to file, Bennett spokesman Matt Roberts said.
East Valley Tribune
An error by backers of a permanent one-cent hike in the state sales tax for education and public works projects could keep voters from getting a chance to decide the measure in November.
Ann-Eve Pedersen, organizer of the measure, admitted Tuesday that the paper version of the initiative pre-filed with the Secretary of State’s Office, as required by law, is different than the one being circulated on the street. Those are the petitions she intends to file next week.
But Matt Roberts, a spokesman for Secretary of State Ken Bennett, said his boss intends to turn her away.
Ann-Eve Pedersen, organizer of the measure, admitted Tuesday that the paper version of the initiative pre-filed with the Secretary of State’s Office, as required by law, is different than the one being circulated on the street. Those are the petitions she intends to file next week.
But Matt Roberts, a spokesman for Secretary of State Ken Bennett, said his boss intends to turn her away.
Arizona Capitol Times
A possible mistake in the ballot language for the Quality Education and Jobs initiative could keep the proposed one-cent sales tax increase off the ballot in November.
The Arizona Tax Research Association, a prominent critic of the initiative, said they discovered a potential major flaw in the campaign’s signature-gathering efforts.
The Quality Education and Jobs campaign may have been collecting signatures on petition sheets using ballot language that is different than the version that was filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
See the two versions
The Arizona Tax Research Association, a prominent critic of the initiative, said they discovered a potential major flaw in the campaign’s signature-gathering efforts.
The Quality Education and Jobs campaign may have been collecting signatures on petition sheets using ballot language that is different than the version that was filed with the Secretary of State’s Office.
See the two versions
Bloomberg Business Week
The issue of whether Amazon.com should be required to collect tax on online sales to Arizonans isn't going away.
State legislators during their 2012 regular session considered but ultimately shelved proposals to force the Seattle-based online retailer to collect tax on its sales in Arizona.
But the issue is expected to resurface publicly in coming months when a newly appointed state task force considers making recommendations for legislative action on improving Arizona's sales-tax system.
State legislators during their 2012 regular session considered but ultimately shelved proposals to force the Seattle-based online retailer to collect tax on its sales in Arizona.
But the issue is expected to resurface publicly in coming months when a newly appointed state task force considers making recommendations for legislative action on improving Arizona's sales-tax system.
The Arizona Republic
Gov. Jan Brewer this week named a dozen people to a task force that will figure out how to make Arizona's sales-tax code simpler both for those paying it and those collecting it.
The governor created the task force last month with an executive order, saying the state's sales tax is overly complex to administer. But it's also a crucial part of state operations; about half of Arizona's operating dollars comes from the tax.
Brewer has set a Dec. 31 deadline for the group to do its work and submit a report.
The governor created the task force last month with an executive order, saying the state's sales tax is overly complex to administer. But it's also a crucial part of state operations; about half of Arizona's operating dollars comes from the tax.
Brewer has set a Dec. 31 deadline for the group to do its work and submit a report.
Arizona Republic
Four Arizona cities rank among the nation's top 10 municipalities for highest sales-tax levies, according to a new report.
Consumers in Glendale, Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa pay combined sales-tax rates in the 9 percent range, placing them among the top 10 in the nation, with Scottsdale, Chandler and Gilbert only slightly lower. Birmingham and Montgomery, both in Alabama, had the highest combined state and local sales-tax rates at 10 percent.
Consumers in Glendale, Phoenix, Tucson and Mesa pay combined sales-tax rates in the 9 percent range, placing them among the top 10 in the nation, with Scottsdale, Chandler and Gilbert only slightly lower. Birmingham and Montgomery, both in Alabama, had the highest combined state and local sales-tax rates at 10 percent.
Evening Observer
All taxes and fees are a problem in New York state.
In Arizona, the problem is not with property taxes — or taxes paid to multiple governments since there is one school district and one municipal entity. The Grand Canyon state, however, does have high sales taxes, which rates it second in the nation. In the top spot is Tuba City, Ariz., with a rate of 13.725 percent. That is nearly twice the amount for Chautauqua County, which is 7.75 percent.
In Arizona, the problem is not with property taxes — or taxes paid to multiple governments since there is one school district and one municipal entity. The Grand Canyon state, however, does have high sales taxes, which rates it second in the nation. In the top spot is Tuba City, Ariz., with a rate of 13.725 percent. That is nearly twice the amount for Chautauqua County, which is 7.75 percent.
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – Vans Trading Co. has been around since 1946, but it’s only in the last decade that customers at the Tuba City general store have yelled at the cashiers after they get their receipts.
That’s because Vans is in the town with the highest sales tax in the nation and the town, in turn, is in the state with the second-highest combined sales tax burden in the nation, according to two recent reports.
“After we ring up the total in the product and the tax comes up, they’re not happy with it,” said Vans owner Lucky Mokhcia. “But I tell them I have no control over that.
That’s because Vans is in the town with the highest sales tax in the nation and the town, in turn, is in the state with the second-highest combined sales tax burden in the nation, according to two recent reports.
“After we ring up the total in the product and the tax comes up, they’re not happy with it,” said Vans owner Lucky Mokhcia. “But I tell them I have no control over that.