In Monday’s edition, the Tribune reported that Arizona ranks 41st out of the 50 states in the amount of their incomes that go to support state and local governments. Good news I thought when I read the story.
Later in the day even more good news. The effort by the governor and development interests to raise the state sales tax 18 percent through the initiative process apparently won’t make the November ballot. Not enough valid signatures, according to the secretary of state.
The proposal was ill-timed and under-handed.
The push to put it on a crowded presidential ballot was timed for a large turnout of uninformed voters. Maybe, just maybe few would notice that there taxes would go up.
In the meantime, “leaders” seemed unmoved by the fact that Arizonans are suffering through a recession that is costing many their homes and tightening budgets in households that stay in tact. The proposal was tax and spend government at its worst.
The initiative was also tarnished by the games played by the governor’s office and backers to raise money for the project. Initially the plan would have required developers to pay a share of the tax tied to future development.
But behind closed doors, developers were left off the hook in exchange for a $100,000 contribution.
You and I would have been the ones left on the hook for paying for transportation infrastructure that ultimately would have benefited developers.
Great deal for them; lousy deal for us.
But it looks like we’re off the hook–for now.
