OP learns lessons from Sam Brownback's tax scare
Republicans once idolized the tax-cutting superstar; now they look askance at him.

http://www.politico.com/story/2014/12/gop-learns-lessons-from-brownback…

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2014/11/17/ducey-a…

Gov.-elect Doug Ducey will take office in January and immediately have to respond to a growing state budget crisis.

According to legislative budget staff, Arizona faces a possible $520 million budget shortfall this fiscal year and a $1 billion shortfall next fiscal year. State law requires the governor to present a budget proposal to the Legislature by Jan. 16.

Voters handily agreed Tuesday to finance a major renovation of the Valley's only public health-care system through bonds that will cost taxpayers $1.6 billion with interest over the next three decades.

Unofficial returns showed 63 percent of Maricopa County voters favored Proposition 480. The ballot measure allows Maricopa Integrated Health System to issue $935 million in general obligation bonds to build a new county hospital, upgrade inpatient and outpatient clinics, and expand behavioral health facilities.

The bonds will be retired through secondary property taxes.

Even the best of intentions can run into the law of unintended consequences. And it looks like the "UC" law may be taking a bite out of Arizona's commitment to funding early-childhood development programs.

In 2006, Arizona voters approved Proposition 203, which hiked cigarette taxes by 68 percent in order to fund a variety of programs statewide dedicated to improving the quality of early-childhood development.

It was an ambitious effort, backed by a broad-based coalition of child advocates and supported enthusiastically in these pages of The Republic.

Tempe officials say they cannot provide residents the full dollar value of the eight-year tax incentive it is offering a developer in a deal to buy and build on city-owned land at Town Lake.

Responding to The Arizona Republic's questions about the financial details of the incentive, Tempe economic-development officials said they are unable to provide the amount at this point because it depends on information they currently do not know.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/arizona/politics/2014/10/17/prop-in…

A study commissioned by the Maricopa Integrated Health System says that approving a $935 million bond to renovate and expand the county health-care system would generate state revenues.

http://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/mesa/2014/10/22/mesa-biggest-…

As the largest city in the country without a primary property tax, Mesa makes up for it by charging its utility customers higher fees to help cover day-to-day expenses.

And while Mesa residents have some of the biggest utility bills in the Valley as a result, city leaders say it's not enough.

In Proposition 480, Maricopa County voters are being asked to approve the third-largest bond/tax increase in Arizona history.

The county hospital proposes to sell $935 million in bonds that will be paid back through higher property taxes. Including interest, this staggering request will cost property taxes a whopping $1.6 billion over the next 27 years.

http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/arizona/politics/article_ac8c6912-4b60…

Maricopa County residents will decide next month the role the county should play in Arizona’s health care system, which is already affected by state and federal health care programs.

PHOENIX (CBS5) -
The Gilbert Chamber of Commerce says it is opposing a $935 million bond measure for Maricopa County's special healthcare district.

Proposition 480 calls on the county's voters to OK a bond of up to $935 million for new and renovated facilities for the Maricopa Integrated Health System.

The Gilbert chamber calls for a more clearly-defined itemization for use of funds.