OFFICIAL
TITLE
SENATE
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1001
A
CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
PROPOSING
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA; AMENDING ARTICLE IX,
CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA, BY ADDING SECTION 12.1; RELATING TO TEMPORARY
TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE AND USE TAXES.
TEXT
OF PROPOSED AMENDMENT
Be
it resolved by the Senate of the State of Arizona, the House of Representatives
concurring:
1.
Article IX, Constitution of Arizona, is proposed to be amended by
adding section 12.1 as follows if approved by the voters and on proclamation
of the Governor:
12.1.
Temporary taxes; repeal from and after May
31, 2013
SECTION
12.1. A. A TEMPORARY TAX IS LEVIED FOR THE PURPOSE OF RAISING STATE
REVENUES FOR PRIMARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
B.
THE TEMPORARY TAX IS LEVIED AND SHALL BE COLLECTED BEGINNING ON JUNE
1, 2010 AND SHALL CONTINUE FOR THIRTY-SIX CONSECUTIVE CALENDAR MONTHS,
AFTER WHICH THE TEMPORARY TAX IS REPEALED.
C.
THE TEMPORARY TAX IS LEVIED AS A SEPARATE RATE INCREMENT IN ADDITION
TO THE STATE TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE TAX RATES AND THE USE TAX RATE.
THE RATE OF THE TEMPORARY TAX IS ONE PER CENT OF THE TAX BASE FOR
EACH TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE CLASSIFICATION THAT IS SUBJECT TO A RATE
OF FIVE PER CENT OR MORE AND ONE PER CENT OF THE TAX BASE FOR THE
USE TAX.
D.
THE TEMPORARY TAX IS SUBJECT TO THE SAME EXEMPTIONS, DEDUCTIONS AND
EXCLUSIONS AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR EACH TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE TAX CLASSIFICATION
AND FOR THE USE TAX.
E.
THE NET REVENUES DERIVED FROM THE TEMPORARY TAX IMPOSED BY THIS SECTION
ARE NOT SUBJECT TO DISTRIBUTION TO COUNTIES, MUNICIPALITIES OR OTHER
GOVERNMENTAL ENTITIES BUT SHALL BE CREDITED TO, AND SEPARATELY ACCOUNTED
IN, THE STATE GENERAL FUND AND APPROPRIATED AS FOLLOWS:
1.
TWO-THIRDS OF THE REVENUES SHALL BE APPROPRIATED FOR PUBLIC PRIMARY
AND SECONDARY EDUCATION.
2.
ONE-THIRD OF THE REVENUES SHALL BE APPROPRIATED FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY PURPOSES.
F.
THE TEMPORARY TAXES UNDER THIS SECTION ARE DUE AND PAYABLE AT THE
SAME TIME AND IN THE SAME MANNER, AND ARE SUBJECT TO THE SAME PROVISIONS
FOR ADMINISTRATION AND ENFORCEMENT, AS PROVIDED BY LAW FOR OTHER TRANSACTION
PRIVILEGE AND USE TAXES.
G.
THE REPEAL OF THE TEMPORARY TAX UNDER THIS SECTION DOES NOT AFFECT
THE CONTINUING VALIDITY OF OUTSTANDING AND UNPAID TAX OBLIGATIONS
THAT ACCRUE UNDER THIS SECTION, INCLUDING ANY PENALTIES AND INTEREST
THAT ACCRUE THEREAFTER BY LAW ON THE UNPAID OBLIGATIONS.
H.
THE TEMPORARY TAX UNDER THIS SECTION IS REPEALED FROM AND AFTER MAY
31, 2013.
2.
The Secretary of State shall submit this proposition to the voters
at a special election called to be held for that purpose on May 18,
2010 as provided by article XXI, Constitution of Arizona.
ANALYSIS
BY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL
Beginning
June 1, 2010, Proposition 100 would amend the Arizona Constitution
to temporarily increase the state transaction privilege and use taxes
("state sales tax") by one cent per one dollar for three
years. For most purchases, the state sales tax would increase from
the current 5.6 cents per one dollar to 6.6 cents per one dollar.
The monies collected from the temporary tax would be separately accounted
for in the state general fund and would be allocated as follows:
1.
Two-thirds would be appropriated for public primary and secondary
education.
2.
One-third would be appropriated for health and human services and
public safety purposes.
Under
Proposition 100, the temporary tax would be administered and enforced
in the same manner as the existing state sales tax and would be subject
to the same exemptions, deductions and exclusions as the existing
state sales tax, except that the current distribution to cities and
counties of a portion of the existing state sales tax would not include
any temporary tax revenue.
The
temporary tax is repealed on May 31, 2013.
FISCAL
IMPACT STATEMENT
State
law requires the Joint Legislative Budget Committee (JLBC) Staff to
prepare a summary of the fiscal impact of Proposition 100. Beginning
June 1, 2010, Proposition 100 would amend the Arizona Constitution
to temporarily increase the state transaction privilege and use taxes
("state sales tax") by one cent per one dollar for three
years.
Proposition
100 is projected to increase state sales tax revenues by $918 million
in the first year. The proposition is projected to increase state
sales tax revenues by $968 million in the second year and $1.06 billion
in the third year.
ARGUMENTS
"FOR" PROPOSITION 100
Vote
YES on Proposition 100
In
28 years of public service, and with a proven and consistent track
record as a trusted conservative, I have never voted to raise taxes.
But as hard as it is to do, I am a "YES" vote on Proposition
100.
Since
taking office last year, my top priority has been to solve the worst
budget crisis in Arizona history. The answer to me is tough, but simple
- reject the phony politics, and DO THE RIGHT THING. That's why I'm
voting "YES" on Proposition 100.
Our
citizens are fed up with weak politicians who don't have the leadership
abilities to make the tough decisions. I'm voting "YES"
on Proposition 100 to maintain funding for Arizona's K-12 education
system at reasonable levels, to keep our students learning and classroom
sizes manageable.
This
tax is TEMPORARY but necessary. Funding will go to our universities
and community colleges to keep higher education affordable. It will
keep felons locked up, and it will provide Arizona's poorest families
the basic help they earnestly need.
I've
been a truth teller my entire career. So, here's the truth: without
the temporary revenue a "YES" vote will bring, these programs
must be cut by more than $1 billion immediately. The damage done to
education and public safety would be far too great.
That's
why Proposition 100 is the right thing to do.
These
new revenues alone will NOT solve the problem. As Governor, I have
already implemented the largest reductions in state government in
Arizona history. The decisions are tough, but doing the right thing
often means doing the hard thing.
It's
a tough decision. But it's the right decision. Please help me preserve
public safety and education for our state and for our future.
Please
vote "YES" on Proposition 100.
|
Jan Brewer, Governor,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
We
fully support the proposed increase of one cent in the State sales
tax. For 2 years we have suffered dramatic cuts in State services
due to the economic recession - deep cuts in education and health
& social services, closures of State parks and highway rest-stops,
and much more. And the State budget deficit
for next year promises to be several times larger! The sales
tax increase will blunt future cuts by over $1 billion per year for
3 years. Although many of us would prefer other types of revenue enhancements
as alternatives or supplements to the sales tax increase,
there simply is no other option available . A majority of our
legislators has steadfastly refused to consider other revenue enhancements.
The House of Representatives have even passed a schedule of future
tax decreases for businesses , but the
Senate has not and hopefully will not follow suit. Now is the time
to conserve and enhance revenues to avoid the worst of program cut-backs;
once the crisis has passed we need to turn our attention to reforming
our entire tax base and system. Remember, the
proposed increase in the sales tax will end in 3 years. Put more
dramatically, let's plug the holes in our sinking ship now and then
work on designing a more sea-worthy craft once we reach shore.
Please join us in supporting and voting for the sales tax increase!
|
Dale L. Keyes,
Tucson |
Paula J. Keyes,
Tucson |
Is
there anyone who really wants a tax increase? I think not, but there
are many who think there is simply no choice. I am one of those people.
No
sales tax increase most certainly means that Arizona classrooms will
bear the brunt of these most difficult economic times. Arizona is
already in the bottom five of state education expenditure per pupil.
The
education process in Arizona is not perfect, but it is manned by caring
and hard working men and women. They often use their own money for
things students need to succeed; they are used to being economical
every day. Deep cuts in educational funding will put a strain on educational
delivery that will adversely affect our state.
As
a high school teacher, I know first hand that students simply can
not learn as much or as well in a room where one teacher tries to
meet the needs of 35-40 students.
Do
we want a state where students entering the work force not as prepared
as they need to be in order to be creative and forceful employees?
Even if you don't have a child in school, you are dramatically affected
by the kinds of students that your schools produce. They are the office
managers, the physicians, the judges, the engineers and the teachers
that will make your world either better or worse. How well-educated
do you want your doctor or police to be?
Do
not punish the students for an economic situation that they did not
create. Educational funding is astonishingly low to begin with; it
must be maintained. Don't shortchange your future. Vote yes.
|
Dianne G. Braden,
Phoenix Union High School District, teacher, retired, Phoenix |
Do
you believe America is the greatest country in the world? I do. And
I want to keep it that way. Supporting our schools is one of the most
patriotic things we can do.
I
am old enough to remember the GI Bill, which provided college education
for the WW2 veterans. The result was a well-educated work force that
sent a man to the moon and created an economy that ruled the world
for decades.
The world today is more competitive than ever. Arizona is not only
competing with China and India (which is educating twice as many college
students as the United States), we are competing with every other
state in the union for new business. And without new business, which
brings jobs, Arizona will wither on the vine.
So
here's the question: why would a big company with lots of good jobs
move to a state that doesn't support education? Why move to a place
with a lousy workforce?
New
Jersey spends more than twice as much per child as Arizona. Even Alabama,
Arkansas, and Mississippi, spend more per child. We simply must do
a better job of educating our children, for Arizona's future. This
small tax is an investment in Arizona's future - and America's. Support
our schools. It's the patriotic thing to do.
As
an Arizona native, product of the public school system and superintendent
of Chandler Unified School District, I am personally asking for the
public's support on the temporary 1-cent-per-dollar sales tax increase
on the May 18 ballot measure. Like so many, Arizona public schools
have been hit hard by budget cuts each of the last two years and are
bracing for further lost revenue as state lawmakers grapple with the
effects of a slumping economy.
We
have tightened up the fiscal belt, kept the cuts as far away from
the classroom as possible and leveraged our limited funding by partnering
with city, businesses and corporations. Ongoing decreases in revenue
will make it difficult, if not impossible, to control teacher/pupil
ratios, recruit and retain quality staff and preserve successful programs.
Sales
tax monies generated by the temporary sales tax increase will provide
a much-needed financial boost to schools throughout Arizona. Please
join me in support of public schools by voting "Yes" for
Prop. 100. In fact, I hope you will vote "Yes" and then
get involved in your local school districts and help make the decisions
needed to move us forward.
|
Dr. Camille Casteel,
Ahwatukee |
ARGUMENT
IN SUPPORT OF THE 1% TEMPORARY SALES TAX BALLOT MEASURE
The
Executive Board of the Scottsdale Parent Council urges Arizonans who
care about education to vote yes on the temporary 1% sales tax. While
we acknowledge the validity of arguments that a sales tax is the least
consistent of revenue sources, that no one wants to pay higher taxes
in a recession, and that this tax will only partially address our
ever growing deficit, there is one simple fact that is inescapable:
Without these funds in our State's coffers, children in Arizona will
suffer.
Two-thirds
of the revenue from this tax will go directly to support public schools,
where nearly 90% of Arizona's children are educated. Our schools and
universities have endured over $900 million in cuts over the last
2 years; there is little left to take. We understand that, even with
this tax, we will likely sustain more cuts; such is the extent of
the deficit we face. But we hope we can count on Arizonans to join
us in telling our children that, even when times are tough, we value
them and their educations. Please join us in voting yes on the temporary
1% sales tax, and in saying yes to Arizona's future.
|
Anna Marie Mars,
President, Scottsdale Parent Council, Phoenix |
Mike Baranack,
Vice President Legislative Liaison, Scottsdale Parent Council,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "The Scottsdale Parent Council"
|
Dear
Arizona Neighbor:
As
the president of the Arizona Highway Patrol Association and a Sergeant
with the state Department of Public Safety, I've spent 20 years working
to keep our streets and communities safe. Every day, I witness what
criminals do to destroy the fabric of our lives and I see the peace
of mind the presence of pro-active, engaged police officers brings
to Arizonans everywhere.
Because
public safety, along with education, is the primary responsibility
of state government, and because we cannot compromise with criminals,
the AHPA is strongly advocating for
a YES VOTE on PROPOSITION 100 .
If
we are to stay safe, we need to continue
to fund public safety, not at a "luxury level," but at the
core level necessary to keep felons locked up, patrolmen on the streets
and our court system functioning. Unfortunately, the economic downturn
has put pressure on government as it has on your family and mine.
In response, state government has been cut by more than 10 percent,
and state agencies have been forced to slash all but the most essential
services. Still, a temporary infusion of revenue is a must. Otherwise,
the state will be forced to cope with 2010 problems, 2010 prisoner
counts and 2010 school enrollments at 2004-era revenue levels.
That
impossible task can only have one outcome - we will see serious, long-term
damage to the state of Arizona, its neighborhoods, our schools and
our core social services. As a father of two, and a cop, I can't let
that happen.
Your
YES on 100 vote is a vote
that embraces a temporary solution meant to ensure a long-term gain
for every Arizonan. Please join me in
supporting Proposition 100 .
|
Jimmy Chavez,
President, Arizona Highway Patrol Association, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Associated Highway Patrolmen of Arizona PAC"
|
It
is all but certain that K-12 education is going to face draconian
budget cuts without additional state revenue. The system can only
absorb these cuts by increasing classroom size. Imagine your child
in a classroom with forty or fifty other children. This isn't a mere
possibility. It's what's going to happen if Proposition 100 fails.
When
we cut education, we cut our future. As a retired Kindergarten teacher
I know the value of teacher/student ratios. Large class sizes deny
individual attention to deserving students. A room filled with young
children who are given limited access to equipment and space compromises
the learning environment. Each child is unique and can only achieve
his or her potential if tended to by a qualified teacher who can devote
time to addressing the child's individual learning style.
It
would be a tragedy to cut corners at this time. Research has proven
the importance of early learning. Teachers with an overloaded classroom
will spend most of their time on classroom management rather than
addressing individual needs. It will rob them of the important focus
of teaching concepts in creative and inspiring ways. Children who
are quiet, shy and needing motivation will quickly get lost in the
chaos. We cannot let this happen.
Please
do not allow our children to be stuffed into over-crowded classrooms
where the joy of learning will suffer. Please join me, teachers, parents,
and citizens concerned about Arizona's future in voting yes on Proposition
100.
|
Marilyn Kanefield,
Retired Kindergarten Teacher, Phoenix |
Argument
in favor of the Temporary Sales Tax, May 18 Election
Arizona
faces a persistent deficit of more than $2 billion that can be resolved
only through permanent spending reductions or revenue enhancements.
The deficit in the near term is even larger. Spending already is lower
than the state's historical norm and the average of other states;
revenues currently are 40% less than the historical norm. Reductions
in revenue, due in part to the economic recession but mostly a result
of numerous and substantial tax reductions since the early 1990s,
are the cause of the deficit.
If
the proposed temporary sales tax increase is passed, it will solve
only a portion of the problem, and only for three years. The tax burden
will remain far below the state's historical norm and that of most
other states. For a low-income household that spends $10,000 per year
on taxable items (which do not include food), the additional annual
tax will be only $100.
Economic
models predict negligible adverse effects of the tax on the economy
with effects of commensurate budget cuts actually more damaging.
More
than half of the general fund supports education, with nearly all
of the other appropriations going to public safety and health and
human services. Without an increase in revenue, all of these programs
will have to be cut further. Education is of particular significance
due to its important role in economic development. Yet per pupil spending
on elementary and secondary education already is second lowest in
the nation.
This
sales tax increase--and additional revenue enhancement--is essential
for the state to continue to provide the public services necessary
to be successful in economic development. Without the additional revenue,
the long-term health of the Arizona economy will suffer along with
the economic well-being of the state's residents.
Argument
for an Increase in the Sales Tax Rate
The
general fund of Arizona's state government has a huge budget deficit.
While some of the deficit will go away as the economy improves, more
than $2 billion will remain. The only ways to eliminate the remaining
deficit are to increase revenues or decrease spending.
Though
some have claimed that "excessive spending" is the cause
of the deficit, the reality is that general fund expenditures, after
adjusting for the size of the state's economy, have been lower than
the state's historical norm since the mid-1990s. However, general
fund revenues relative to the size of the economy are much further
below the historical average: 40% lower currently. Even after the
economy recovers, revenues are expected to remain at least 25% less
than the norm. This is the result of the tax reductions that have
been passed since the early 1990s that take away more than $2.5 billion
in revenue each year. These tax cuts have lowered the tax burden in
Arizona from near the national average to among the bottom 10 states
in the nation.
The
proposed increase in the sales tax rate will raise about $1 billion
per year--not even half of what is needed. The annual cost to the
typical resident will be on the order of $100. This is a small price
to pay, particularly since most of the tax proceeds will go to K-12
education. The alternative to this tax increase is deep spending cuts
to education, which receives 60% of the general fund appropriations,
public safety, and health and human services.
An
increase in the sales tax rate will have a short-term negative effect
on the economy. However, spending reductions will have a larger negative
economic impact.
Arizona State Constitution, Article 11 - Section 10
In addition to such income the legislature shall make such appropriations,
to be met by taxation, as shall insure the proper maintenance of all
state educational institutions, and shall make such special appropriations
as shall provide for their development and improvement.
Not
only are we required to provide adequate funding for programs such
as education, it is our moral responsibility. Schools in Arizona are
already educating the population with inadequate funding and failure
to maintain current levels of needed appropriations will only make
the situation worse. Imagine an Arizona without Athletics, Art, Music,
Gifted Education, Career/Technical Education, Physical Education,
etc. in our schools. The consequences of these actions include not
producing a competitively educated workforce to lead our state or
nation in a time when other countries are taking the lead academically
and economically. Furthermore, who would want to locate a company
here if the local workforce is not educated?
If
this one-cent on the dollar increase does not pass, the impact on
education will be devastating.
This
is an example of how one Arizona school district will be affected:
*
Elimination of:
-
3 out every 20 staff positions
-
High School & Middle School Athletics
-
Career and Technical Education
-
K-8 Art, Music, & PE Programs & Teachers
-
Full-day Kindergarten
-
Textbooks & classroom equipment
-
Classroom supplies
-
Field Trips
-
After school programs
-
Gifted Education
*
Reduction of:
-
Special Education staff & programs
-
Teacher pay by $2,000+
Education
will look very different if this proposition is not passed. Arizona
is ranked 50th among all states in per-capita for K12 spending. In
contrast, Arizona ranked 2nd among all states in per-capita spending
on correctional facilities. Do we care more about taking care of prison
inmates than children?
Please
vote YES on this proposition!
Dear
Arizona Voter:
With
more than 1,500 members and a 55-year history throughout the state,
the Arizona Association of School Business Officials (AASBO) is a
non-profit professional organization dedicated to promoting the highest
standards of school business management in Arizona.
The
members of AASBO stand united in urging a YES VOTE on PROPOSITION
100.
As
leaders in the Arizona education community, the members of AASBO have
premised our careers on providing a quality education for the more
than 1 million students who study in Arizona's schools. The well-being
of these students and ensuring their futures are at the heart of every
decision we make. With that in mind, saying YES to this temporary
increase in the state's sales tax - at a time when Arizona's education
funding hangs in the balance - appears to be not only a must, but
the only responsible course of action possible.
Anything
less would mean permanent damage to primary and secondary education
in this state, a course of destruction we cannot tolerate because
of what it will mean not only to the future of our children, but to
our state's ability to maintain a quality education system and to
compete in the global economy.
Arizona
needs to preserve education funding. A YES VOTE on PROP 100 will do
exactly that. We hope you will join the members of AASBO in supporting
this measure.
Thank
you for your time, and for your YES vote.
|
Dr. David Peterson,
President, Arizona Association of School Business Officials,
Phoenix |
Tom Elliott,
President Elect, Arizona Association of School Business Officials,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Association of School Business Officials"
|
Kenneth
was born in 1921. Over the years he weathered many difficult times
- his parent's divorce when he was just a young boy, the Great Depression,
WWII, the loss of his only child in Vietnam, and after nearly 63 years,
the death of his beloved wife, Betty.
I
got to know Kenneth late in his life, distantly connected to him through
a second marriage to a much younger cousin. And although he lived
several states away, he took a keen interest in my 10 year-old daughter's
education. Every month she would receive a letter from his with a
crisp, twenty-dollar bill inside. In return, my daughter would send
him samples of school assignments and papers she had written on various
subjects.
I
would often admonish him for sending money. I knew he lived on a fixed
income, and as he grew older, I knew it was only a matter of time
before he would need costly medical care. But the money kept coming,
along with his kind and encouraging words of support.
Kenneth
died this past summer and we miss him greatly. But his legacy of generosity
and sacrifice lives on. You see Kenneth had hope for the future. He
felt he had a responsibility, an obligation to insure that the next
generation would have the same opportunities that were granted to
him. As Kenneth used to tell me, "You make a living by what you
get, but you make a life by what you give."
Vote
yes in support of K-12 Education. Vote YES on proposition 100.
|
Rosemary Feraldi-McCain,
Vail |
Voters
are asked to approve a temporary one-cent sales tax increase. The
period of this tax increase will last for three years starting on
June 1, 2010 and ending May 31, 2013. Two-thirds of this revenue would
assist public primary and secondary education and one-third to health
and human services.
Cottonwood's
Partners-In-Education strongly supports this one-cent sales tax increase
since it will lessen dramatic cuts to education and provide some sense
of stability for public education in a time of budgetary crisis. School
districts have already experienced substantial reductions in funding.
During the 2009-2010 school year districts had their soft capital
funding reduced approximately seventy percent. Soft capital funds
are used for computers, textbooks, classroom supplies and other instructional
aides. The Governor recommends that full-day kindergarten be eliminated,
as well as numerous state grants and all soft capital funds.
Public
education understands that they must share a portion of the burden
due to the financial crises; however, this one-cent tax increase will
lessen the devastation on an education system that consistently ranks
in the bottom of per-pupil spending, even in the best of times.
Partners-In-Education
recommends a "Yes" vote.
|
Angel (Sonny)
Rodriguez, Treasurer, Partners In Education, Cottonwood |
Eric Wyles, Member,
Partners In Education, Cottonwood |
|
Paid for by "Eric Wyles" |
I
encourage your YES vote. Although the one penny increase in the sales
tax alone is not enough to meet the existing demands for K-12, AHCCCS,
Universities, and prisons, it prevents further cuts to an already
despicable level of funding. Our public health programs, child care
assistance, state-only support for disabled children and adults, and
many other programs will continue to be in danger, but likely will
be eliminated without this temporary increase. I encourage your YES
vote.
|
Jorge Luis Garcia,
State Senate Democratic Leader, Tucson |
The
Arizona Transit Association supports the temporary one-cent sales
tax that is on the May ballot. This tax is a tough decision for Arizona
citizens to face. Not everyone that supports or opposes the sales
tax does so for the same reasons. Many believe that we need additional
resources while others are fearful of any tax, even a constitutionally
legal temporary tax. Most of us know that without this revenue the
state's infrastructure for a safe, stable, livable community is in
peril. This sales tax is not a complete solution but will begin to
heal our state's deep financial wounds. Without this temporary solution
there will be $1 billion less in revenue. This may create an ongoing
series of measures that take away available sources of revenue that
have an important purpose, including lottery revenues that fund services
for the disabled, elderly, and citizens who need transportation services.
With the current economy, the State has eyed obligated revenue to
help balance the budget. Not having the billion dollars in sales tax
dollars will put those investments in further jeopardy. Lost transit
routes for thousands of Arizonans will mean the inability to get to
work. These dollars also provide specialized transit services for
seniors and the disabled that gives them the independence they need
to make vital trips to the grocery store, the doctor, or the pharmacy.
Without this transportation, many would no longer live independently
and will end up institutionalized, which may lead to a more expensive
way of caring for these citizens. Supporting independence is the primary
reason this program exists. We must try hard to ensure that Arizona
citizens, who need to go to work, receive medical care, and buy groceries
have the ability to access these facilities. For this reason, AzTA
supports the temporary sales tax.
|
Bryan Jungwirth,
President, Arizona Transit Association, Mesa |
Debbie Cotton,
Vice President, Arizona Transit Association, Mesa |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Transit Association"
|
Arizonans Should Ask Questions About the Proposed Sales Tax Increase
Before
voting on this sales tax measure, Arizonans need to know the answers
to several related questions:
(1) Are All Arizonans Going to Share Equally in the Tax Increase?
The
Arizona legislature has been debating the idea of combining this 18%
increase in sales tax with a 28% decrease in corporate tax and a 10%
decrease in income tax. Arizona needs to know if the voters approve
the sales tax increase, will the legislature then vote to decrease
corporate and income taxes.
(2) Will Increasing the Sales Tax Maintain the Current Level of Services?
The
revenues generated from the sales tax increase are dedicated to education,
health care and public safety. Arizona needs to know wheather or not
the projected $940 million of increased sales tax revenues will be
enough to maintain the level and quality of services currently provided
by the state.
(3) Are Other Revenue Generating Options Available to the State?
The
Arizona legislature has been considering a proposal to allow existing
horse and greyhound tracks to operate slot machines at their current
locations. This proposal would generate state revenues of over $400
million per year and would enable the state to immediately borrow
$1 billion against future revenues. Arizona needs to know why this
revenue generating proposal wasn't included as an option in this special
election.
The
public relations campaigns associated with this ballot measure should
provide direct answers to these questions. With these answers, Arizonans
will be able to make more informed decisions about the best public
policy for the entire State of Arizona.
|
Kenneth D. Pritsker,
President, Civil Nation, Phoenix |
Arizona
is struggling with the deepest economic downturn in several generations,
with unemployment and foreclosures both on the rise. This economic
meltdown has resulted in an over $3 billion shortfall in the state's
revenue. Over the past two budget years K-12 education has absorbed
cuts of over $590 million to funding levels that are now the lowest
in the nation. In an effort to prevent further catastrophic cuts to
public education, the legislature, with a bi-partisan vote, wisely
referred Proposition 100, a TEMPORARY one cent sales tax to the ballot.
This temporary measure represents the best chance we have of preventing
additional deep cuts to a public education system that is already
on life support.
If
this measure fails, schools will be forced to cut academic support
programs for student struggling in the early grades; cut elective
programs such as art, music and athletics; and, raise class sizes
dramatically. Children who are struggling will not get the individualized
attention they need. Districts report that, with the funding cuts
to date, class sizes have already gone up by as much as thirty percent.
Additionally, Arizona's school funding will drop below the amount
required by federal law, putting at risk hundreds of millions of dollars
in federal funding.
Passage
of Proposition 100 also makes sense from an economic development perspective.
Businesses looking to locate in Arizona place a high priority on the
quality of the public schools and the availability of a skilled workforce,
both of which will be seriously undermined by the failure of this
measure. Together we can help to ensure the future is a little brighter
for our students of today and our skilled workers of tomorrow. Now
is the time for Arizonans to come together and stand for children
by voting YES on Proposition 100.
|
Jeff Winkler,
Arizona Advocacy Director, Stand for Children, Phoenix |
Please
join Children's Action Alliance in supporting the temporary sales
tax increase. This sales tax is a band-aid for Arizona's broken budget.
It is a band-aid our children and families desperately need. The sales
tax revenue will cover about one-third of our budget deficit. Without
these funds, additional budget cuts to children, k-12 education, and
health care will be so deep that Arizona may never recover our state
infrastructure and competitiveness. With the temporary sales tax,
we have the chance to rebuild the assets most important to our families
and our future.
Please
vote YES and be part of the solution for Arizona.
|
Nora Hannah,
Chairperson, Children's Action Alliance, Phoenix |
Christine Nowaczyk,
Vice-Chairperson, Children's Action Alliance, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Children's Action Alliance"
|
Our
state budget crisis was caused by long-term, massive overspending
combined with widespread economic collapse. For the most part, the
people who are being asked to solve it are not the ones who caused
it.
A
great burden has fallen on the shoulders of those in leadership today,
and I admire their willingness to confront reality rather than hide
behind platitudes. Ironically, nothing speaks to that leadership more
clearly than letting voters to decide on this tax. Doing so was an
act of rare political honesty and courage that required sophisticated
and thoughtful analysis.
By
allowing voters to decide whether to temporarily tax themselves on
sales, state leaders have accepted their share of political liability
rather than passing it along to local governments that are already
facing reductions in the ranks of police and fire, suspension of important
infrastructure projects and park closures.
The
Governor and the Legislature have terminated wasteful spending, and
should be commended for those efforts. They have also advanced initiatives
to create jobs and grow the economy, some of which already have begun
to take root.
Unfortunately,
all of this combined cannot get the state on stable footing in time
to avoid significant lapses in basic public services. That is why
the tax proposed in Proposition 100 is necessary.
A
temporary "consumptive" tax, such as this, is preferable
to those -- like taxes on property, earnings, estates and investments
-- that punish families who work hard and carefully manage what they
earn and invest. It is the one over which we have greatest control
because we can generally avoid the tax by avoiding a purchase.
Like
many other fiscal conservatives, I plan to vote "yes" on
Prop 100. I hope you will join me.
|
Maria Baier,
Arizona State Land Commissioner, Phoenix |
Support
Proposition 100 - Temporary Sales Tax
There
is no solution to the present budget challenge that does not involve
elements most of us would prefer to avoid. There are limited means
to balance the budget: expand the economy to grow tax revenues and
fees, increase revenue by raising taxes and/or fees, reduce discretionary
expenditures, sell State assets, or incur debt. Many of these steps
have already been taken.
We
must nurture our economy. Top employers want a skilled workforce,
infrastructure and transportation, and the most important decision
factors are the quality of school systems, access to healthcare, logistics
and operating costs. Education is at the top of the list, taxes are
somewhere in the bottom half. Arizona universities have already been
cut significantly by over $200 Million since 2008 and K-12 is funded
at 2006 levels (with more students in the system than were here in
2006). Without new revenues more cuts to both are inevitable. Would
that really reflect our priorities? What would that mean for Arizona's
next generation? Their competitiveness for quality jobs in the future?
The
current estimate of our deficits for FY 2010 and FY2011 are nearly
$1.5 Billion and nearly $3.5 Billion respectively. We can hope that
the Arizona economy recovers from this recession with the rest of
the country, but we will likely be slower. To cope with our fiscal
challenge in the least painful way possible, a balanced approach to
bringing down expenses and increasing revenues should be employed.
Proposition
100 states that this tax will end in three years. No one wants higher
taxes but the consequences of not doing so at this time would be worse.
Please support this temporary tax increase needed to sustain primary
and secondary education, health care and public safety at minimum
levels.
|
Sarah B. Smallhouse,
Tucson |
It
is imperative that the one percent temporary sales tax passes. Arizona
education desperately needs the two-thirds funding it would receive
from this one percent sales tax.
Since
1992 the legislature has repeatedly lowered our taxes for many different
reasons including the "surplus" it had, thereby creating
the "rainy day fund." By lowering taxes, the process reduced
funding to K-12 education. To support the lowering of taxes during
these years, the legislature borrowed monies on buildings and properties
which is illegal under the Constitution of the state of Arizona. It
continues to justify their magical accounting practices by moving
monies around or borrowing from other funds.
Reduction
in spending has already hit programs across the state from state parks
to healthcare, senior centers and, yes, Arizona schools. We can't
possibly take any more away from our schools to run even at a "below
standard" level. Our legislature has lowered taxes for this generation
but the result is raising taxes for future generations. This is IMMORAL!
Arizona cannot continue to take away the very funds that are set aside
for our future leaders.
Vote
YES on raising the temporary three-year sales tax by one percent.
Our future is at stake.
|
Sharon R. O'Malley,
Phoenix |
The
Arizona Education Network urges Arizonans who care about the economic
future of the state to pass the 1% temporary sales tax. The tax, which
will automatically repeal on July 1, 2013, will dedicate two-thirds
of proceeds to education and one-third to health and public safety.
These are areas which have already experienced major budget cuts.
Because of the cuts already made to education, many Arizona schools
are dealing with increased class sizes, are without librarians, books
and even paper. Additional cuts will be made to public education even
if the temporary 1% sales tax education passes. However, if Proposition
100 does not pass, as much as one-quarter of all public education
funding could be cut.
Cuts
to public education are placing Arizona's economic future in jeopardy.
In order for Arizona to compete in a global economy, attract new companies
to the state and keep our military facilities, we need to have a strong
public education system. If Arizona fails to fund quality public education
our professionals may leave for states that provide better educational
opportunities for their families, property values may decrease, and
crime rates may increase. Therefore, we urge you to vote yes for Proposition
100 to position our state for a brighter economic future.
|
Ann-Eve Pedersen,
President, The Arizona Education Network, Tucson |
MaryLee Moulton,
Vice President, The Arizona Education Network, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Education Network" |
Dear
Voters,
As
you consider Proposition 100, I think it is important to look at Arizona's
budget crisis in context:
In
just 3 years, state tax revenues have declined by over 35%. This is
the worst recession the state has ever faced. Arizona's state revenues
are at or below 2004 revenues levels. At the same time, since 2004,
Arizona has grown - adding over 140,000 students to K-12 and the University
system, over 11,000 new prisoners and over 475,000 Medicaid enrollees.
The result is Arizona is trying to do more today with less - to serve
a growing population.
Arizona
must continue to attract new businesses and new talent to the state,
as well as support our existing small businesses throughout the state.
With new business, future tax cuts for individuals and businesses
will follow to help attract investment and grow our future economy.
Making Arizona as business friendly as possible is the key to our
long-term economic success.
However,
in the interim, it is appropriate for Arizona to look for a temporary
revenue source to maintain critical government functions such as public
safety and education services to our growing population. As such,
a temporary one-cent sales tax increase is a reasonable solution to
this problem. A majority of Republican legislators, along with Democrats
in both state houses voted to place Proposition 100 on the ballot.
Combined
with a comprehensive tax reform package that reduces future taxes
for both individuals and businesses, Prop 100 would be an appropriate
tool to help Arizona build towards economic recovery and meet the
needs of a fast growing state.
Sincerely,
Dear
fellow Arizonans,
Yá'át'ééh!
The Navajo People - the Diné - have a long history of persevering
and sacrificing for our children and the future. We are committed
to building a brighter future for our children with an economy that
is positive for our people and the state as a whole. To get there,
core Arizona state services are vital. The Navajo and all citizens
of Arizona have a major stake in the quality of our education system,
state health and human services, and public safety protection. These
services are now being compromised by the budget crisis and the hundreds
of millions of dollars of program cuts that have already occurred
because of it. Further cuts will collapse the state's ability to provide
these necessary programs in the future.
Proposition
100 is a common sense approach to our state's immediate budget shortfall-the
worst since the Great Depression. It will provide the means to preserve
core state services that are necessary to ensure our future. The one
percent tax continues only until 2013. At that point, most economists
believe our economy will once again be headed in a positive direction.
But for now, we cannot stand by and allow budget cuts to compromise
our children's education and health services our seniors and children
so desperately need. I urge you to vote Yes on Proposition 100 on
May 18.
Sincerely,
|
Dr. Joe Shirley
Jr., President, The Navajo Nation, Window Rock |
|
Paid for by "Paul M. Bielecki" |
The
Arizona School Boards Association (ASBA) urges you to vote
YES ON 100 . We are a non-profit, non-partisan organization
that is comprised of more than 240 public school governing boards
and more than 1,200 volunteer school board members. Our primary mission
is to advocate for a quality education for more than 1.1 million children
statewide.
With
those students and with our state's future in mind, we strongly urge
every Arizonan to vote YES on 100
.
Without
the passage of Proposition 100, the budget for K-12 education in Arizona
will face devastating cuts that puts our students', and State's, futures
in jeopardy. Class sizes will rise, classroom resources will grow
more scarce and quality teachers will flee our schools. In a global
economy that grows more competitive with each passing day, this will
put Arizona's schoolchildren at a disadvantage they may never make
up.
Proposition
100 - a temporary tax increase that will be shared by all of us, and
that will also help keep our neighborhoods' safe and our frail cared
for - will fill in the budget gaps that threaten the quality of an
Arizona education. All of us at ASBA understand, just as you do, how
hard it is to contemplate even a few dollars' increase in our tax
burdens during such challenging times. We face those tough budgetary
decisions every day on our local school boards. But we also know that
a short-term sacrifice in the present will help us protect what every
Arizonan values in the long-term -- the future of our school children
and the future of our state.
Thank
you for your time and your consideration. Please join us in voting
YES on 100 and give the youngest Arizonans a leg up on tomorrow.
|
Debbie King,
President, Arizona School Boards Association, Phoenix |
Panfilo H. Contreras,
Executive Director, Arizona School Boards Association, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona School Boards Association"
|
Dear
Voter,
Greater
Phoenix Leadership (GPL) members are among the Region's top 100 companies
and represent over 250,000 employees. We believe that essential government
services such as a top-flight education, preserving public safety,
and healthcare for the poor are integral parts of our State's quality
of life. That is why we are supporting Proposition 100.
Arizona
is facing one of the greatest economic downturns in our history. The
current budget challenge is not a short-term problem that will go
away in a couple of years, even if this year's and next year's budgets
could be addressed. Without permanent changes to spending, revenue,
or both, the State will continue to have an annual structural deficit
exceeding $3 billion for many years.
The
magnitude of the problem has been exacerbated by the continuing national
and local economic slowdown and the collapse of the investor-driven
real estate boom. Any delay in starting to address the problem makes
the problem bigger day by day. Mathematically, it is impossible to
solve our long term, structural deficit without changing both spending
and revenue levels permanently. Economic growth will not solve the
problem.
State
reliance on long-term borrowing to fund current operations has grown
dramatically (leaseback of state buildings, rollovers, securitizing
future revenues). While this solves the momentary crisis, it does
not reduce the structural deficit and, in fact, increases it.
We
need a temporary bridge as the fundamental changes necessary to restore
fiscal health to our State are made. Proposition 100 provides that
temporary, targeted bridge.
Help
keep Arizona moving in the right direction. Please join Greater Phoenix
Leadership in voting yes on Prop 100.
|
Thomas R. Franz,
President & CEO, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Phoenix |
Lisa A. Atkins,
Vice President, Greater Phoenix Leadership, Litchfield |
|
Paid for by "Greater Phoenix Leadership"
|
On
behalf of the Arizona Education Association's 34,000 members and the
state's 1 million students, we urge you to vote YES on PROPOSITION
100. Without this temporary infusion of revenue, our state's public
education system stands to suffer serious damage. While we bridge
the funding gap with this measure, we can work together to create
a lasting solution.
The
last few years have been hard ones in households and in classrooms
across Arizona. As our state's population has continued to increase
- Arizona has added 150,000 K-12 students since 2004 - our state's
revenues have plummeted 34 percent in the past 3 years.
That
math is impossibly hard. Already funding for education is down to
2006 levels with additional cuts looming. While Arizona educators
are working hard to do with more with less, there comes a breaking
point - a moment when the system can no longer function.
We're
at that point, and an education system that can't function leads to
a state that's broken and to children whose futures are compromised.
We
believe, and we hope you agree, that this is unacceptable.
Please
VOTE YES on PROPOSITON 100. We believe it's a vote to preserve opportunity
for children statewide. Thank you.
|
John Wright,
President, Arizona Education Association, Phoenix |
Andrew Morrill,
Vice-President, Arizona Education Association, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Education Association"
|
We
urge you to support Proposition 100, which will provide temporary
revenue to support public safety. This additional revenue will help
maintain adequate funding levels for the Arizona Department of Public
Safety (DPS) and the Arizona Department of Corrections (DOC) during
this difficult economic period. Unfortunately, our state is confronting
a fiscal "perfect storm" that is threatening the ability
of DPS and DOC to perform their vitally important functions, which
in turn, presents a threat to public safety in Arizona.
This
fiscal "storm" stems from numerous factors including federal
and state protected spending and mandates, a prolonged economic downturn
and a corresponding decline in state revenues. Unfortunately, the
DPS and DOC budgets do not benefit from any of these federal or state
mandates or protections.
Historic
spending reductions have been enacted to balance the state's budget.
While DPS and DOC have been significantly impacted by the budget reductions,
public safety has not been compromised due to careful planning. However,
future budget reductions will be necessary to annually balance the
state budget over the next several fiscal years and the DPS and DOC
budgets will be targeted for proportionally larger budget reductions
since our agencies are not protected areas of the budget.
A
portion of the additional revenue generated by this temporary tax
is dedicated for public safety. These additional revenues are critical
to maintain adequate financial support for DPS and DOC and to continue
to ensure that public safety is not compromised by this financial
crisis.
A
vote in favor of Proposition 100 is a vote for public safety and we
urge your support of this important measure.
|
Robert Halliday,
Director, Arizona Department of Public Safety, Phoenix |
Charles L. Ryan,
Director, Arizona Department of Corrections, Phoenix |
CHOICES
Network of Arizona, Inc. is a network of non-profit as well as small
and medium-sized businesses that, together, make up a significant
portion of Arizona's public mental health infrastructure. We serve
persons with serious mental illness or the depressed. We ensure Arizona
citizens have the support they need to make it through their daily
lives. The agony of mental illness will not go away because of our
budget deficit. It cannot be willed away, put off or repealed. Without
the partnership of government, not-for-profit and public agencies,
the mentally ill will not have the resources to live successfully
in the community, including the opportunity to make meaningful contributions
to our community through work and other recovery activities. Their
ability to parent, or share in family life diminishes. While Arizona
is experiencing this budget crisis, emergency resources need to be
identified that can keep those who are still receiving services stable.
Without this temporary tax increase thousands who used to receive
consistent, high quality care are at great risk of no longer receiving
services or having services significantly reduced. Supporting this
temporary sales tax can help keep services for this vulnerable population
intact. Remember, when the seriously mentally ill fall through the
cracks, they do not fall out of sight. They land in emergency rooms,
or on our streets, or in our jails. Jails and emergency rooms are
costly alternatives to providing basic services. Living with a serious
mental illness should not mean living on the streets. We have turned
away from institutionalization as our only option for behavioral health
recipients who can live independently and successfully on their own
or with their family. But community support is critical. If another
billion dollars disappears from the state budget, the safety net will
soon give way.
|
Ron Smith, CEO,
CHOICES Network of Arizona, Phoenix |
Wayne Hochstrasser,
CEO, Triple R Behavioral Health, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "CHOICES Network of Arizona"
|
Dear
Voter:
The
Arizona Chapter Associated General Contractors strongly encourages
you to vote YES on PROPOSITION 100. Like you and your family, our
members have been hit hard by Arizona's economic struggles. Even so,
we see this temporary penny bump in the state's sales tax as a must.
The
schools and colleges our children rely on must remain functional.
The neighborhoods we've built with our hands and hearts must remain
safe. And the safety net afforded to those in need, the poorest and
the most at-risk, must remain whole.
At
AGC, we believe PROP 100 will do all of these things.
Over
the last few years, we, Arizona's voters, have asked the state to
expand services. We wanted more money for education, we wanted to
preserve open space, and we wanted expanded health programs. Unfortunately,
because of the recession, the state no longer can afford those measures.
The Governor and Legislature have cut more than 20 percent from the
state budget, but it is not enough. Without this temporary tax increase,
education expenditures will be cut even more and our public safety
will be put at risk.
This
tax will provide the temporary relief that our state needs to weather
this storm. Please vote yes on PROPOSITION 100.
|
David M. Martin,
President, Arizona Chapter, Associated General Contractors,
Phoenix |
Sarah Morgan,
Vice President, Arizona Chapter, Associated General Contractors,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Chapter, Associated General Contractors"
|
Arizona Public Service (APS):
As
Arizona's largest power provider - with more than one million customers,
more than 7,200 employees, and a 125-year history in the state - all
of us at Arizona Public Service have a vested interest in doing what's
right for our Arizona. Like you, we live here, work here and want
to thrive here.
For
all those reasons, we urge a "YES"
vote on PROPOSITION 100 .
At
APS, we're committed to a vibrant Arizona. That means having enough
revenue to support core services: K - 12 education, colleges and universities,
public safety and helping the least fortunate and most vulnerable
in our state.
Because
a government can't turn its back on its basic responsibilities, we
believe a temporary, one-cent increase in the state sales tax absolutely
demands the support of voters. Of equal importance is the need to
maintain Arizona's quality of life, not just for the sake of residents,
children and businesses, but to ensure that the state continues to
be an economic magnet, drawing new jobs and new capital to our communities.
We
need an Arizona that ensures our neighborhoods are safe, our children
are educated and our jobs are competitive.
Please
help us keep Arizona the home we cherish.
Please VOTE YES on PROPOSITION 100.
|
Martin L. Shultz,
Vice President, Government Affairs, Pinnacle West Capital Corporation,
Phoenix |
Donald G. Robinson,
President & Chief Operating Officer, Arizona Public Service
Company, Phoenix |
David P. Falck,
Executive Vice President, General Counsel & Secretary, Pinnacle
West Capital Corporation, Arizona Public Service Company, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Public Service Company (APS)"
|
BALLOT
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION 100
(Temporary
Sales Tax Increase)
Recognizing
that the State of Arizona faces unprecedented financial challenges,
on June 11, 2009, the Tohono O'odham Legislative Council passed a
resolution in support of Governor Brewer's proposal to address the
state budget deficit, including a temporary sales tax increase.
It
is important to note that Indian tribes govern lands comprising more
than one-quarter of the State of Arizona and are therefore essential
partners in addressing the challenges facing the State during the
current recession. Furthermore, the majority of Tohono O'odham Nation
members are also Arizona citizens who are directly impacted by reductions
in State services and by the priorities reflected in annual State
budgets.
While
increasing taxes is never a preferred method of balancing a budget,
we recognize that a temporary tax increase in an important means of
maintaining key public safety, education and health services that
are vital to all Arizonans. Therefore, we encourage you to please
vote "Yes on 100."
|
Dr. Ned Norris,
Jr., Chairman, Tohono O'odham Nation, Sells |
|
Paid for by "Tohono O'odham Nation" |
Arizona Sales Tax Increase - Ballot Measure Argument
The
Southern Arizona Leadership Council (SALC) stands in full support
of the temporary one-cent sales tax increase identified as Ballot
Proposition 100.
Current
tax revenues for the state of Arizona have dropped far below the level
needed to preserve the state's core services. Significant cuts have
been made and state borrowing is at record levels, yet our budget
for 2011 and beyond is over $3 billion short each year if revenue
is not increased.
In
these unprecedented economic times, SALC believes that Arizona must
continue to provide basic services to ensure the health and well-being
of those most vulnerable among us. Equally important is the need to
maintain minimum levels of investment in public primary and secondary
education as well as in public safety.
Arizona's
future depends on our ability to grow our current business base and
attract new businesses that will provide the jobs so desperately needed
by the citizens of Arizona. Most often the first questions asked by
businesses considering a move to Arizona are:
1.
Does Arizona have a trained workforce to fill the jobs we create?
2.
Does Arizona have a quality education system for the families of our
employees?
The
passage of Proposition 100 will help allow our state to answer "yes"
to these important questions.
As
citizens of Arizona our choice is simple: Find new revenue or face
devastating cuts in critical areas such as education, healthcare and
public safety. We can pass Proposition 100 and position Arizona for
future prosperity, or we can fail to pass it and do irreparable harm,
especially to our children, and to our state's reputation as a good
place to live and work.
We
urge you to join us and pass Proposition 100. Our future depends on
it.
|
Ronald E. Shoopman,
SALC President, Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Tucson |
Michael S. Hammond,
SALC Vice Chair, PICOR Commercial Real Estate Services, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Southern Arizona Leadership Council, Inc."
|
Valley
of the Sun United Way supports Proposition 100 in an effort to protect
our state's most vulnerable populations.
For
more than 80 years, Valley of the Sun United Way has served the human
care needs of individuals and families across Maricopa County. Deeper
cuts to vital programs protecting Arizonans would result in a failing
safety net for residents most in need - victims of domestic violence,
individuals and families experiencing homelessness, the disabled and
seriously mentally ill and children and youth at risk.
Proposition
100 will help preserve critical services on which so many rely. Please
join us in supporting Proposition 100.
|
Merl E. Waschler,
President & CEO, Valley of the Sun United Way, Scottsdale |
Katherine Cecala,
Chief Operating Officer, Valley of the Sun United Way, Phoenix |
Brian Spicker,
Senior Vice President, Community Impact, Valley of the Sun United
Way, Scottsdale |
|
Paid for by "Valley of the Sun United Way"
|
VOTE YES ON THE TEMPORARY SALES TAX INCREASE
The
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry supports the temporary sales
tax increase as part of our comprehensive approach to resolving the
state's fiscal and economic crisis, which is among the nation's most
severe. In addition to this measure, the Arizona Chamber supports
further sustained expenditure reductions, longer-term tax restructuring
and job creation legislation as outlined in the Chamber's budget recommendations,
and the implementation of a statewide debt policy.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry believes that a temporary
increase in the sales tax will serve as a bridge to reduce the need
for borrowing and help lessen the amount of additional cuts to core
state services. It also will reduce the possibility that Arizona simply
becomes insolvent and is unable to pay its bills. Arizona has already
cut more than $1 billion of annual expenditures, probably the most
in our state's history. We have also been on a massive borrowing binge,
which includes having essentially mortgaged our State Capitol. We
will need to pay these borrowed funds back -- -- with interest.
In
conjunction with a temporary sales tax increase, the Arizona Chamber
believes that additional legislation is needed to retain and create
jobs in Arizona. We must work to diversify our economy, which in the
long run should help to resolve the state's structural deficit. For
an update on the status of legislation supporting this position, as
well as the Chamber's 2010 budget recommendations, please visit the
Chamber's Web site at www.azchamber.com
.
The
Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry urges a YES vote as part
of our comprehensive plan to fix Arizona's budget and economy.
|
Glenn Hamer,
President & CEO, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry,
Phoenix |
Don Robinson,
Chairman, Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Chamber of Commerce & Industry"
|
United
Way of Northern Arizona supports Proposition 100 in an effort to protect
our state's most vulnerable populations.
United
Way of Northern Arizona serves the human care needs of individuals
and families across northern Arizona. Deeper cuts to critical programs
protecting Arizonans would result in a failure to provide services
to residents with the highest needs, including victims of domestic
violence; individuals and families experiencing homelessness; the
disabled and mentally ill; and children and youth with characteristics
that put them at risk.
Proposition
100 will help preserve vital services that provide a safety net for
these individuals. Please join us in supporting Proposition 100.
|
Kerry Blume,
President & CEO, United Way of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff |
Scott Kemp, Treasurer,
United Way of Northern Arizona, Flagstaff |
|
Paid for by "United Way of Northern Arizona"
|
The
state is facing a huge deficit ($3 billion) as far as the eye can
see. This deficit is structural and cannot be solved solely by spending
cuts. Taxes must be increased.
There
is a populist belief that taxes should be cut to stimulate the economy
or, conversely, taxes can never be raised without hurting the economy.
Not true. The state legislature has made 42 tax cuts to the three
major General Fund revenue sources (sales, income and corporate income
taxes) since 1992 and it has also completely eliminated statewide
property taxes that accrued to the General Fund. Tax cuts imposed
since the mid-1990s are the equivalent of cutting $2.6 billion annually
from today's revenues (after adjusting for cost of living and population
growth).
Raising
taxes will not hurt Arizona's economy. Proceeds are not burned, buried
or flushed; rather, they are re-spent in the state employing people,
paying vendors, and provided needed services to Arizonans. Those dollars
are put right back into the economy. There are additional reasons
to support this tax increase. First, a portion of Arizona's sales
taxes are "exported" to non-Arizonans, i.e., tourists. Second,
Arizona imposes a very low tax burden on its residents, so taxes can
increase without hurting Arizona's competitiveness; Arizona ranked
41st in 2008 according to the Tax Foundation. Third, low taxes are
not the only factor businesses consider when selecting locations.
They require a quality workforce, which is largely dependent on the
health and education systems of the state, and infrastructure, much
of which is provided by the public sector.
The
people we elected to the legislature won't vote for a tax increase
because they are afraid they won't get reelected. That leaves it up
to voters. Let's hope they do, for Arizona's future standard of living
is at stake.
|
Alberta H. Charney,
Ph.D., Tucson |
Pima
County Interfaith Council urges you to vote YES on 100.
Like
many states across the country, Arizona finds itself in a precarious
financial situation. The Governor and Legislature have cut more than
20 percent from the state budget. This has put vital services such
as education, health and human services and public safety in jeopardy.
The state continues to have a large budget shortfall. We must increase
revenue or risk loosing core services to all Arizonans.
The
sales tax will adversely affect many of our families. Although there
are better methods of creating revenue, this is our only option--
at this time -- to protect vital core services
for all. This temporary increase in the sales tax is necessary to
provide the relief that Arizona needs to weather this storm.
Pima
County Interfaith Council believes in providing hope for families
through Faith, Power and Action. A "Yes" vote on Proposition
100 will help provide critical services for families in Arizona.
|
Andrea S. Robson,
Co-Chair, Pima County Interfaith Council, Tucson |
Ernie Lujan,
Treasurer, Pima County Interfaith Council, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Pima County Interfaith Council"
|
The
temporary sales tax increase is the "worst tasting medicine"
being offered to help the critically ill "State of Arizona"
patient. No other medicine is being offered at this time. Therefore,
if one does not take the medicine now, the patient's prospects for
survival are dismal. If you value the patient's life (i.e. Arizona
children, the state of healthcare in Arizona, its quality of life
and economic prosperity) please vote for the sales tax increase on
May 18. The alternatives to non-passage of this sales tax proposal
are too bleak and will affect every
family and individual who chooses to stay in the State of Arizona.
|
Kimberly Ferreira,
Education Advocates, Tucson |
Larry Sakin,
Education Advocates, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Kim Ferreira" |
Arizona
state government needs a lot more revenue to continue to provide the
public programs that it has provided to Arizona's residents for decades.
Without more revenue, Arizona will not be able to continue even its
very modest current level of education spending per student. Expenditures
for public safety will need to be reduced. Help for the needy will
have to be cut back even further. Money to maintain and improve the
physical infrastructure--particularly roads and highways--will not
be available.
Quality
employers do not locate or expand in a state that has a subpar educational
system and a deficient physical infrastructure. Thus, jobs that pay
well and provide benefits (including health insurance), will be limited
in number in Arizona if the state cannot provide the public services
that businesses require.
Literally,
Arizona's future is at stake. Without a willingness to invest in ourselves
through support for public education and the infrastructure we all
use, the quality of life in the state will steadily deteriorate, as
will the economic standard of living.
Raising
the sales tax rate for three years is only a beginning to solving
the problem. It will raise $1 billion per year for these three years,
but the state needs more than $3 billion per year permanently in additional
revenues in order to maintain public spending at the modest-to-moderate
levels of the past. It needs even more in the near term, given the
still-weak economy.
Raising
the sales tax rate is hardly the preferred option for raising revenue,
since it is a regressive and narrow tax on which the state is overly
dependent. However, it is the only option that can be implemented
immediately--state government is desperate for a cash infusion.
Dear
Arizona Voter:
The
Arizona Association of County School Superintendents urges you to
vote "Yes" on the "One Cent Sales Tax" referral.
As elected county officials, our responsibilities require close work
with school districts to develop and manage their budgets. At the
same time, we fully understand the dilemma facing the State Legislature.
These are unprecedented times in Arizona's history that require extraordinary
strength and unity of purpose to safeguard the already perilous financial
situation facing our schools.
Since
the 2010-2011 budget has not yet been established by the Arizona Legislature,
we cannot provide specific details regarding what will be eliminated
from school budgets if this proposal is defeated. We can however,
speculate that the following areas are likely to be considered by
school districts:
- reductions
in staff and increases in class sizes;
- reduction
or elimination of extracurricular activities such as athletics,
band, music, drama, and art;
- reduction
or elimination of many non-required courses and student activity
programs;
- reduction
in classroom supplies, equipment, and transportation;
- reduction
in technology support and purchases;
- reduction
in maintenance of facilities; and
- reduction
in the length of the school week.
Some
school district governing boards are discussing the possibility and
likelihood of closing neighborhood schools.
On
top of deep financial cuts experienced by schools over the last several
years, additional cuts will intensify the already "bare bones"
educational environment of Arizona children. The "fat" is
long gone from school district budgets. Unfortunately, lawmakers will
have only one option left available - to cut educational funding even
further. Children and families will suffer, and Arizona's future will
be at risk. Arizona's economic strength and future development require
dynamic schools and a well-educated work force.
Please
vote Yes.
|
Dr. Linda O'Dell,
President, Arizona Association of County School Superintendents,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Association of County School Superintendents"
|
Yes on Proposition 100
On
behalf of the Arizona State Board of Education, I urge your support
for a temporary tax to maintain our state's education system. While
it is true that Arizona is facing an historic economic crisis, we
must not compound the problem by decimating our K-12 schools. Arizona's
schools have already absorbed massive cuts. A yes vote on Proposition
100 will provide the needed revenue to weather this fiscal storm and
allow our teachers and students to pursue high academic achievement.
Governor Jan Brewer, along with business and community leaders from
both political parties, understand the severe consequences of failure.
If we move backwards, then our state's ability to attract new businesses
and grow our way out of this recession is in jeopardy because long-term
economic development is based on a fundamentally sound education system.
The
State Board believes our school system must be held accountable and
parents need to know that their children's schools are making real
progress against meaningful standards. However, we cannot ignore the
simple fact that if our public is not willing to provide the necessary
resources, more schools will close, more teachers will lose their
jobs and more classrooms will overflow beyond a single teacher's ability
to engage their students.
We
can avoid this outcome: Let our students and teachers know Arizonans
are willing to come together in this time of crisis and adopt a temporary
increase in taxes so that we can provide them with an opportunity
to gain a lifetime of academic success. Years from now we can look
back on this period and remember how we stood for something more important
than our own self-interest - A quality K-12 education system for all
children.
Please
vote YES on Proposition 100!
|
Jaime A. Molera,
Board Member, Arizona State Board of Education, Phoenix |
Arizona
voters are urged to support the 1-cent increase in the state sales
tax to raise nearly $1 billion in revenue that will help fund critical
needs in education, public safety and health and human services.
Without
this increase, Arizona's economy will be crippled by additional budget
cuts, resulting in the loss of thousands of jobs to health care workers,
educators and public safety personnel.
In
addition, failure to approve the 1-cent increase could result in:
1) permanently closing state parks and roadside rest areas; 2) increasing
school class sizes, thereby eroding the quality of education for our
children; 3) overloading hospital emergency rooms with families who
have lost health insurance; 4) shredding the safety net protecting
vulnerable adults and children; and 5) increasing officer response
times on our state highways and reducing security.
Failure
to pass this 1-cent sales tax increase will critically impact the
state's economy. The deterioration in the quality of life for all
Arizonans will be both substantial and devastating; especially for
our residents who can least afford it - children, the elderly and
families already suffering from job loss in this tough economic downturn.
We
urge all voters to come together and vote yes to approve this critical
increase in revenue.
|
Joseph P. Anderson,
Vice President, Monsignor Edward J. Ryle Fund, Phoenix |
Pamela M. Gralton,
Treasurer, Monsignor Edward J. Ryle Fund, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Monsignor Edward J. Ryle Fund"
|
TERROS Board of Directors Supports One Cent Sales Tax
These
are unprecedented times, and we believe we must take action and support
the temporary one cent sales tax to enable the State to maintain essential
services.
TERROS
is a community-based behavioral health organization that helps people
recover from substance abuse and treats people who have a wide range
of behavioral problems. It provides an array of services including
mobile crisis intervention, substance abuse prevention, outpatient
treatment and specialized services to assist persons who have serious
mental illnesses. For decades, TERROS has operated efficiently as
a nonprofit community organization. This community infrastructure
assists families and individuals struggling with a variety of life
problems, reduces inappropriate placements to hospitals and jails
and provides support to help people be productive and healthy parents,
co-workers and neighbors.
Without
these services, the more expensive and less efficient alternatives,
specifically, jail, prison and hospital emergency rooms become the
fall back providers to these families and individuals, resulting in
our society being less stable and productive. That is why we support
the temporary one cent sales tax increase. We know that without those
dollars, the state will be forced to make another billion dollars
in cuts, most of which will be cuts to treatment and services throughout
the State. That will adversely impact all Arizonans, including the
people served by TERROS.
We
understand that voting for a tax is never an easy choice. We hope
that you agree that a temporary one cent sales tax increase is a better
choice than turning away thousands of Arizonans who need help, through
treatment, as they try to better their lives.
|
Donald J. Newman,
Board Member, TERROS, Phoenix |
Hank Radda, Board
Member, TERROS, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "TERROS, Inc." |
Vote Yes on Proposition 100.
The
great promise of America is that each generation will improve the
lot of, and opportunities for, the next. And each - often at great
sacrifice - has done so. Until now.
America,
and Arizona, can't compete for economic growth - and the jobs of the
future - with lower wage jobs. We must compete for higher value jobs.
Jobs that create the new ideas and products that the rest of the world
will buy. Jobs that result from higher education.
The
rest of the world is competing for those jobs and making massive investments
in higher education. Meanwhile, as America falls behind in degree
production, Arizona is 49th of the 50 states. Our state is not competing
for the new jobs of a knowledge based economy.
In
fact, we have cut universities deeper than ever before in our states'
history. Funding for higher education - as a percentage of the Arizona
state budget - is half what it was 25 years ago.
Proposition
100 is temporary revenue to help us get through these difficult times
without closing the doors of education to thousands of worthy Arizona
students who will create the jobs of the future.
If
this proposition fails, the Legislature has made it crystal clear
that education will take the extra budget cuts - notwithstanding the
cuts already taken.
No
tax is easy to support. But I do so as an education advocate who believes
that this is a sacrifice we owe our country, our state and our children.
|
Fred DuVal, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
I
strongly support Prop. 100. Its passage will help mitigate the massive
budget cuts to education. Education has traditionally been the pathway
to Arizona's prosperity. Higher education provides the critical career
training and preparation necessary to create a skilled workforce.
This workforce will attract new business to our state. Arizona needs
prepared citizens if it is to be competitive and successful in the
marketplace. Cuts to education funding, needed because of a revenue
shortfall, do nothing to help with the economic recovery which Arizona
badly needs.
Arizona's
public universities have been cut over $231.5M since 2009. Yet our
student population continues to rise. Our universities are doing more
with less money. However, if Prop. 100 is not approved, additional
funding reductions must be made to K-12 and higher education. If not
passed, it is possible that university funding may be reduced by at
least $120M - an amount almost equal to all of the state funding for
Northern Arizona University. These cuts, and many more that are necessary
to resolve the budget without the tax, will cripple education in Arizona.
Although
many cuts have been made, cuts alone will not solve our revenue shortfall
problem. No one likes a tax increase, but this proposed tax increase
is temporary and provides Arizona with the revenue to help avoid a
possible $1B round of overall cuts. This temporary solution will help
Arizona avoid an imminent catastrophe.
Please
invest in Arizona education and economic recovery. Please do so by
joining me in voting YES on Prop. 100.
|
Ernest Calderón,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
I
support Prop 100 and ask you to join me and vote yes on this temporary
sales tax increase.
Having
served on the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee for 18 years, I
know how difficult it can be to make tough budgetary decisions. The
decision to raise taxes in order to address an historic
shortfall is not easy, and can be politically risky. In my view,
however, this action is necessary to maintaining the health and prosperity
of our state and to ensuring a brighter future for Arizonans. During
my Senate tenure, I supported a Federal budget in 1993 that cut Federal
spending and raised some taxes. The result was a major reduction in
the Federal budget deficit and an actual surplus.
Arizona is now facing a similar decision. The state has already made
massive budget cuts to some of our most
important programs, including education, healthcare and public security.
Historically, education has endured large cuts, rolling back funding
to near 2006 levels. Without this temporary tax increase, we face
the prospect of even more drastic cuts. Additional revenue is critical
to ensure the viability of state services and the ability to overcome
the economic downturn.
I
urge you to vote YES on this important budget matter.
|
Dennis DeConcini,
United States Senator, Retired, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
I
support Prop 100 and will vote Yes for the temporary tax increase.
Our
state faces a massive budget deficit that cannot be repaired by cuts
alone. In the past year, our state budget has already been cut by
$1 billion, the state workforce reduced by 10%. And yet we face additional
cuts if we do not vote to bring new revenue in to fund education,
healthcare and public safety.
Education
is critical to the future success of our state. A highly skilled workforce
will be essential to bring job growth to Arizona and help with our
economic recovery. In Tucson, I have seen the impact from the University
of Arizona, as it draws major employers, and with them the jobs that
help to provide a better quality of life for Tucsonans.
If
this tax does not pass, over $1 billion in additional cuts will be
made to the state's essential services, including higher education.
We
must ensure our state has the ability to recover from this economic
downturn, with an educated workforce to compete globally.
Support
education, vote Yes on prop 100.
|
Rick Myers, Chief
Operating Officer, Critical Path Institute, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
Vote
YES on Prop. 100.
We
are in the midst of one of the largest budget shortfalls in Arizona's
history. To address this shortfall, the state's budget has been cut
by $1 billion. These historic cuts are larger than any cuts made by
any other governor in the state's history. Even with these massive
cuts, without additional revenue from the temporary tax increase,
the state will be force to cut critical programs, including education.
The solution can not be reached by cuts alone. We must pass this temporary
tax increase to ensure we protect education, healthcare and public
safety.
Protecting
education from further cuts is essential to ensure the competitiveness
of our state. A quality education system provides a highly skilled
workforce, which is necessary to attract and maintain a vibrant business
community that will help to grow jobs for Arizonans. This temporary
tax will provide the state the ability to realize economic recovery,
while raising the necessary revenue to prevent additional cuts to
education.
If
we want a solution to our budget crisis, the answer is clear; invest
in education and ensure a highly qualified workforce that will foster
an environment for job creation and growth.
Protecting
education is good for Arizonans, and good for our economy. Join me
and vote YES for Prop 100.
|
Fred T. Boice,
Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
Vote
yes on Proposition 100.
Despite
our state's population growth, Arizona
has addressed its massive budget shortfalls
by cutting nearly $ 1 billion dollars
from vital services. That is why Proposition 100 is critical to bring
additional revenue to our most necessary programs, including education.
While the tax increase will not bring in enough money to restore the
massive cuts already endured, it will mitigate additional cuts.
If
Proposition 100 is not approved, additional cuts will be made to the
state support for K-12 education and the universities. Yet we know
that a strong education system is critical to attract and grow businesses.
We cannot cut our budget further, lest we risk jeopardizing the future
competitiveness of our state. We must work to ensure Arizona has an
educated workforce, so that we are able to realize economic recovery
and improve the quality of life for Arizonans.
Vote
yes for Prop 100 and vote to support education for Arizona.
|
Bob McLendon,
Yuma |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
Support Prop 100 and vote for quality education.
A
vote to support the temporary tax increase is critical to the future
of education in Arizona. Over $1 billion has already been cut from
the state's budget and our education system has endured a massive
hit. We cannot solve our budget crisis by continuing to cut away at
essential programs.
Additional
cuts to education will only further slow our economic recovery. Without
strong university and K-12 systems, Arizona will be unable to compete
for the growth in the biosciences, technology and other high-wage-job
producing industries. We cannot afford to fall further behind. That
is why your Yes vote on Proposition 100 is critically important.
Continuing
to balance the budget at the expense of education is shortsighted.
At risk is the future competitiveness of our state, the success of
our economy and the quality of life of our citizens.
Vote
YES on Prop 100
|
Christopher J.
Bavasi, Chairman, Northern Arizona University Foundation; Member,
Flagstaff Unified School District Governing Board, Flagstaff |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
Vote Yes on Prop. 100
As
student leaders, we advocate for the best interest of students. But
we feel this goes hand in hand with what is best for the state as
well. We believe that education is essential to Arizona's future.
We believe that education provides the tools to be better Arizonans,
to contribute to both our state economy and to improve the social
good. We believe that education provides Arizonans with opportunities
they wouldn't have otherwise.
Proposition
100 is critical to address the massive budget gap that the state faces.
We've already seen the state budget cut, including $231 million cut
from the Universities. The students have already felt the impact,
as tuition and fees have helped to fill the hole left by this cut
in state support. We've watched as California's students face 32%
tuition increases and we wait to see if we will face the same fate.
That
is why your Yes vote on Proposition 100 is critically important.
If
Proposition 100 is not approved, additional reductions will be made
to the state support for universities and K-12 education. We cannot
continue to cut our education system. This temporary tax increase
will be critical to bring in additional revenue to ensure our state
has a bright a prosperous future.
Please
join us in voting Yes on Prop 100.
|
Brendan O'Kelly,
President, ASU Undergraduate Student Government, Tempe |
Chris Nagata,
President, Associated Students of the University of Arizona,
Tucson |
Kathleen Templin,
President, Associated Students of Northern Arizona University,
Mesa |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Solutions Through Higher Education"
|
The
times facing our State have never been tougher; nor have the choices
all Arizonans must make. In our extreme economic situation, Arizona's
citizens and elected officials must work together to find solutions.
The
Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, representing 3,100 Valley businesses,
strongly urges a YES vote
on Proposition 100 . This
temporary, one-cent sales tax proposal is a critical step toward balancing
Arizona's budget.
Facing
declining revenues, businesses react by cutting spending wherever
possible. The Arizona Legislature and Governor Brewer have responded
to the state's budget deficit by streamlining agencies and eliminating
more than $1 billion in spending over the past year.
With
the deepest budget cuts in state history, Arizona still faces a monstrous
budget deficit, one that demands consideration of alternative sources
of revenue to cover critical needs as the economy recovers. While
the Chamber would prefer not to raise taxes - taxes that businesses
must pay as well - we have come to the undeniable conclusion that
there is no way to balance the budget without additional revenues
and more difficult and deeper cuts.
The
Chamber understands this increase is not a long-term solution to our
unprecedented financial crisis and that the burden of solving this
crisis cannot lie solely with taxpayers. We are confident the Legislature
will do its part to right our fiscal ship of state and return Arizona
to prosperity.
We
believe this short-term assistance, with a shelf life of three years,
is a step in the right direction. It must be combined with further
strategic cuts in spending, implementation of pro-growth legislative
policies and the reformation of government. These steps are critical
to stabilizing our economy and charting a course to fiscal prosperity.
Please
join the Greater Phoenix Chamber in voting
YES on 100 .
|
Todd Sanders,
President & CEO,
Greater
Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Phoenix |
Connie Perez,
Chair of the Board,
Greater
Phoenix Chamber of Commerce, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Greater Phoenix Chamber of Commerce"
|
What
kind of state do we want for Arizona's families? At a time when many
people have lost their jobs, insurance benefits and homes, there is
a rising demand for the basic necessities: health care, child care,
services for children, the elderly and persons with disabilities.
No more cuts can be sustained by health and social service providers
without serious risks to public safety.
The
Arizona Council of Human Service Providers represents 77 agencies
that provide critical services statewide. Our members understand the
need for these services. That's why we're supporting the temporary
sales tax increase.
Why
should the voters be concerned about these cuts if they are not using
the services themselves? The answer is simple--more cuts will cause
the loss of services for Arizonans with mental illness and addictions.
Without treatment, they will seek help in emergency rooms, causing
even longer wait times for your family. Kids with behavioral issues
will monopolize their teachers' time, taking valuable attention away
from your children. Crisis services will be cut, leading to longer
response times from police and fire departments because they will
be tied up taking people with serious mental illness and addictions
to hospitals and jails. People with drug and alcohol addictions will
have nowhere to go because clinics are closed to anyone who does not
have insurance that covers the services.
At
a time when Arizonans are struggling to put food on the table, we
can't afford more devastating cuts to services that mean the difference
between life and death. Unless we take action now, Arizona will see
lost jobs, lost stability and lost opportunities. Please vote yes
on Proposition 100.
|
Emily L. Jenkins,
President/CEO, Arizona Council of Human Service Providers, Phoenix |
Steve Carter,
Secretary of the Board of Directors, Arizona Council of Human
Service Providers, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Council of Human Service Providers"
|
The Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition (PAFCO) board supports the
increase in the sales tax and urges voters to vote YES on the referral
on May 18, 2010.
Clearly
the state needs new and increased revenues after over 15 years of
tax cuts which, along with this deep recession, have severely curtailed
state revenues.
We
support this increase reluctantly, but in keeping with our principles
which urge new revenues and tax reform in the state.
- Health
and human services must be shielded from further cuts. This new
revenue is necessary but does NOT solve the budget crisis.
- Even
with this new revenue, the Governor and Legislature still propose
and require severe and deep cuts to health and human services programs
which serve children, families and vulnerable adults.
- We
strongly oppose these additional cuts.
- Arizona's
poor families must be protected.
- The
overall tax structure must be reformed.
- Tax
cuts are wrong in the current economy.
- We
oppose any tax cuts until the state economy is fully recovered.
- We
must not dig the revenue hole deeper.
- More
bipartisan solutions are needed.
|
Bruce Liggett,
Chairperson & Officer, Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition,
Phoenix |
Timothy J.
Schmaltz, CEO & Officer, Protecting Arizona's Family Coalition,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Timothy J. Schmaltz" |
Vote
Yes on PROP. 100
The
Arizona Students' Association (ASA), which represents over 120,000
students that attend Arizona State University, the University of Arizona,
and Northern Arizona University, supports Proposition 100. ASA is
a non-profit, non-partisan advocacy organization directed and funded
by Arizona's public university students. ASA works for affordable
and accessible higher education in Arizona.
The
Arizona Students' Association supports Proposition 100 due to the
fact that Arizona is facing the worst budget crisis in the country
and Proposition 100 will significantly help to alleviate a situation
that is currently only getting worse.
Students
in Arizona have witnessed firsthand the devastating effects from the
over $230 million dollars cut from the universities over the past
two years. Students and families in Arizona saw tuition increase not
once, but twice last year, and students this year are facing the largest
tuition increases ever proposed. If Proposition 100 does not pass,
students that are graduating high school right now and applying to
attend ASU, NAU, or the UA could see their costs double over the next
four years, making a higher education unattainable.
We
ask that Arizona voters support education and support Proposition
100.
|
Elma Delic, Chair,
Arizona Students' Association, Phoenix |
Ben Henderson,
Vice Chair, Arizona Students' Association, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Students' Association"
|
Dear
Arizonan,
Many
Arizonans are facing stark economic realities, greatly increasing
the demand for health and welfare safety net programs that we manage
as part of State Government. People who have never had to reach out
for assistance before now find themselves in need. At the same time
demand for services has peaked, available State resources have greatly
diminished resulting in an unprecedented budget crisis. We believe
it's critical to describe the importance of a yes vote on Proposition
100 as part of the overall budget solution.
Despite
the increasing need for health and safety net services, Arizona has
been forced to reduce or eliminate critical services for children,
newborns just home from intensive care and prenatal care.
The
State has cut reimbursement to healthcare providers, day care providers,
foster parents and those who serve people with developmental disabilities.
Arizona has eliminated health coverage to 9,000 parents, frozen enrollment
in KidsCare, established a child care wait list of over 11,000 children
from low income working families, eliminated independent living supports
that help 1,800 seniors remain safely at home, and eliminated services
for over 1,000 victims of domestic violence.
Even
if Proposition 100 passes, more reductions are necessary.
If
Proposition 100 does not pass, policymakers must make $900 million
more in cuts to critical services. This will result in more children,
families and vulnerable adults losing essential health care, behavioral
health, critical safety net and protective services.
We
are committed to working with the Governor, lawmakers and Arizona's
citizens as we continue to carry out our mission, while doing our
share to assist with the resolution of the budget crisis. In these
difficult economic times, the services provided by our Departments
and community providers are needed now, more than ever.
|
Tom Betlach,
Director, AHCCCS, Phoenix |
Neal Young, Director,
DES, Phoenix |
Will Humble,
Interim Director, DHS, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Thomas Betlach" |
Valle
del Sol is one of Arizona's largest nonprofit, community-based organizations,
assisting thousands of Arizonans with behavioral health, human services
and leadership development programs. When one considers Valle del
Sol's mission, values, vision and the dedication of the staff, it
is easy to understand how Valle del Sol has earned a place as an important
pillar of the community.
Notwithstanding
our continued efforts, the economic downturn has severely impacted
Arizona families who are struggling to provide for their basic needs.
The fiscal crisis has resulted in an increased demand on the safety
net that provides vital services. Services for vulnerable populations,
such as children, mentally ill, the disabled and seniors, have been
reduced or eliminated. While the need for services has increased,
budget reductions have resulted in increased caseloads and placed
on additional strain on the system designed to provide support to
those in need. A "yes" vote on Proposition 100 will replenish
the revenue stream and prevent additional devastating cuts to the
safety net that would decimate the last remaining provisions of basic
human services. Please vote yes on Proposition 100.
|
Luz Sarmina,
President/CEO, Valle del Sol, Phoenix |
Kurt R. Sheppard,
Valle del Sol, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Valle del Sol" |
To
protect vital public services and prevent further tax increases, we
must vote yes on Proposition 100.
Prop
100 would temporarily raise the state's sales tax by one cent for
three years. A penny on every dollar. In return, the measure would
provide much needed revenue to the state of Arizona, whose finances
have been devastated by the economic downturn. There are simply no
other options left. All state agencies have taken massive cuts. The
state closed parks and rest centers, eliminated programs, hiked tuition,
dropped our fellow citizens from health care rolls and laid off employees.
And
after all that anguish, the state still can't cut itself out of the
crisis. Voters have mandated certain levels of spending in education
and health care. Those programs make up the majority of state spending.
After including costs to run state prisons, there is no room left
in the budget to cut.
It
gets worse. Over the past few years, the state has been shifting a
number of programs and costs to county governments, forcing local
property taxpayers to pick up the tab. The state has forced counties
to pay a larger share of judges' salaries, to pay the costs of housing
and treating violent prisoners. Lawmakers forced our fellow supervisors
to send tens of millions of dollars to the state. As counties struggle
to deal with their own revenue downturn, they now must take on an
additional $119 million of state cost shifts. If Proposition 100 fails,
those cost shifts and money transfers will continue to grow.
The
proposed sales tax increase should bring in $1 billion in badly-needed
funds to support essential public functions and get through this recession.
It will protect vital services to residents all over the state. Voting
yes is a wise decision and the only option.
|
Liz Archuleta,
Coconino County
Supervisor, Flagstaff |
David Tenney,
Navajo County
Supervisor, Linden |
Max Wilson, Maricopa
County
Supervisor, Phoenix |
Fellow
Arizonans:
I
strongly encourage you to vote yes on Proposition 100. Chicanos Por
La Causa is a statewide community development corporation committed
to building stronger, healthier communities across the state of Arizona.
Our programs and experience have been recognized nationally and internationally
to help develop strong social and economic development programs. Because
our programs serve so many Arizona families, we understand the impact
the current budget crisis is having on Arizona.
The
current economic downturn is also creating significant stresses on
non-profit organizations, such as CPLC, who serve Arizona's most vulnerable
communities. That's why we encourage you to vote yes on Proposition
100. Even with the resources provided by Proposition 100, Arizona
will continue to have to make deep cuts in programs that affect all
Arizonans. Furthermore, Arizona's non-profit, social service providers
will continue to do their important work across the state.
Your
vote for Proposition 100 will simply allow our state leaders to have
access to resources needed to preserve our state's core essential
functions. It will also allow our state to continue important programs
that allow Arizonan's families to achieve a brighter future. Thank
you for your consideration of this important request.
|
Arjelia Gomez,
Chief Operating Officer, Chicanos Por La Causa, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Chicanos Por La Causa" |
State
Sales Tax Ballot Argument
In
Support Of Prop 100
The
6,500 members of the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona are proud
to support Proposition 100. This budget crisis cannot be resolved
through cuts alone. Over the past three years sales tax revenues have
declined by over 30%, personal income taxes are down 38% and corporate
income taxes are down nearly 60%. Yet our needs as a state continue
to grow. Since 2004 we have added over 140,000 students, over 11,000
new prisoners and over 475,000 Medicaid enrollees.
There
are so many amongst us who are less fortunate. There are our children
whose education will determine our future. The there are those who
have chosen to break the law and are in prison. Prison is where they
should stay.
The
Governor and the Legislature have already cut the state workforce
by over 10% and reduced spending by more than one billion.
Our
state budget cannot recover without additional income. Without the
income provided for by this sales tax Arizona will not be able to
carry out its core service responsibilities; public safety, health
care for the less fortunate and public education.
No
one wants to pay taxes but that is the price we pay to live in a civil,
just and moral society. Without this critical addition to our states
revenue, each of these situations and many more will become ever more
desperate.
Not
a single fire fighter or local fire department will benefit from the
passage of the sales tax. We simply recognize that without your help
and ours the ability of the state to carry out its obligations to
all of us is not possible.
The
Fire Fighters urge you to vote YES ON PROPOSITION 100
|
Tim Hill, President,
Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona, Phoenix |
Bryan Jeffries,
Executive Vice President, Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona"
|
The
Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, with about 1000 members in Central Arizona,
supports PROPOSITON 100. YES on 100 is a worthy cause. In fact, we
believe this temporary sales tax must pass - that we must VOTE YES
- to keep Arizona the place that we all rely on and love to call home.
Like
our 6 million neighbors in the state, the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation
understands sacrifice and hard work. Only through many years of perseverance
have we been able to build a stable community and a stable economy.
We believe that education, health care and public safety are essential
to a community's or state's success.
Proposition
100 is a reflection of that belief. While the state battles its economic
crisis, cutting workers by the thousands and dealing with $1 billion
in reduced services, there comes a time when all of us need to say
"enough" and pitch in a little bit. This penny tax imposed
for the next 3 years is our chance to stand strong.
If
we say YES on 100, we will say YES to:
- A
K-12 education system able to deliver high quality schooling, even
as the student population continues to grow by an average of more
than 20,000 students a year.
- Affordable
universities and colleges, essential to building a competitive work
force for tomorrow.
- Safe
neighborhoods and a court system able to deal with serious offenders.
- A
public health care system able to care for the poor and the elderly,
even as those populations continue to explode.
Please
join the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation in support of YES on 100. Arizona
badly needs this temporary help.
|
Dr. Clinton M.
Pattea, President, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Fountain Hills |
Bernadine Burnette,
Vice President, Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, Fountain Hills |
|
Paid for by "Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation"
|
Statement
in Support of a Temporary Increase in State Sales Tax
I
urge voters to support the temporary one percent increase in the State
sales tax to help begin a return of the state's revenues to a responsible
level after disastrous and ideologically driven tax cuts in recent
years. Contrary to the claims of a vocal but small number of anti-tax
ideologues, taxes in Arizona are not high. In fact, they are lower
than they have been in many years. This proposed increase in the sales
tax should be only the beginning in a process to recreate a viable
and responsible tax structure.
In
addition to voting yes on this measure, voters should speak out, and
urge others to speak out, in favor of a balanced and fair system of
revenues to support essential state services, especially for education,
health care for children and poor adults including those needing mental
health services, and other safety net programs. Legislators and other
public officials should be urged to reexamine any pledge they may
have made in earlier times to cut taxes and never to vote for an increase
in any kind of tax. That was then. This is now.
While
sales taxes are regressive because they have a greater impact on lower
income people than on any other group, they are an important part
of a balanced revenue structure. Please vote for this temporary increase
but, more importantly, please get engaged in working for other revenue
increases, at least to the point where we were a few years ago when
we had a tax structure that would result in a balanced budget if it
were in place today.
|
Michael J. Valder,
Phoenix |
Dear
Arizona Voters:
Arizona
Interfaith Network (AIN) is comprised of Yuma County Interfaith representing
Yuma County, Northern Arizona Interfaith Council representing Yavapai
and Coconino Counties, Pima County Interfaith Council representing
Pima County and Valley Interfaith Project, representing Maricopa County.
AIN is comprised of 150 faith communities, non-profits, and teachers'
associations statewide.
Arizona's
financial situation has put the state in jeopardy. Recent cuts in
education and health services damage our families. They also discourage
businesses from relocating to Arizona, depriving us of the very jobs
and revenues needed to restore vitality to our state. Without solid
investment in our core structures now, our communities will not be
prepared when the economic recovery occurs. If we do not make the
appropriate investments in our healthcare, education, and infrastructure,
Arizona will fall further behind.
Arizona
Interfaith Network encourages voters to vote yes on proposition 100
to ensure the vitality of the state.
|
Richard H. White,
President, Arizona Interfaith Network, Chandler |
Bonnie Danowski,
Treasurer, Arizona Interfaith Network, Scottsdale |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Interfaith Network"
|
Valley
Interfaith Project's Pro Argument on Prop 100
Valley
Interfaith Project urges you to vote "Yes" for this temporary
sales tax increase.
In
struggling to balance the horrendous state budget deficit, a sales
tax is not ideal; however, the consequences of decimating the public
sector are even worse. Elected officials have cut the public safety
net of essential health and human services for the poor and vulnerable.
Our children are losing KidsCare health insurance coverage. Programs
so important to the developmentally disabled and mentally ill are
being slashed. Education is being decimated. Classrooms are becoming
crowded, all day kindergarten is on the chopping block, university
tuitions soar, and Arizona is once again 48th in the country in per
pupil expenditures. These are essential services to invest in the
state's human and economic development.
The
answer to our fiscal crisis is not to cut essential programs and handcuff
our future. Arizona has failed to invest adequately in human capitol,
and the state needs new revenues.
Contrary to popular belief, our tax burden is much lower than other
states. In the past fifteen years, policy makers chose to cut taxes,
while ignoring the long term revenue needs of a growing population.
Arizona's
quality of life will improve and our economy will recover only if
we preserve the structures that support a strong middle class. Relocating
and emerging businesses look for an excellent education system, health
care and public services for employees. We cannot be short sighted
but rather must plan courageously for long term security and success
for our families and our state. Vote "Yes."
|
David Ryan, Vice
President, Valley Interfaith Project, Phoenix |
Joseph de Groot,
Treasurer, Valley Interfaith Project, Scottsdale |
|
Paid for by "Valley Interfaith Project" |
Among
factors essential for economic development in the 21st century, an
educated 21st century, workforce and a modern physical infrastructure
are at the top of the list. The public sector plays a critical role
in both.
The
quality of the workforce is heavily dependent on educational attainment
and achievement, from the elementary school system through post-graduate
studies; most individuals obtain their educations at public schools.
Job training is also key to a skilled workforce, and this generally
involves a public-private partnership. Similarly, much of our key
physical infrastructure, particularly transportation, is primarily
provided by the public sector. So the public sector must have adequate
revenues to provide these key services, or economic development and
our standard of living of the residents will suffer.
Currently,
Arizona state government does not have the funds to continue to provide
these basic services, even at the minimal level of the past (for example,
per pupil spending for elementary and secondary education is second-lowest
in the nation). The temporary sales tax will help to provide funding
for education--the ballot measure specifies that two-thirds of the
revenues raised will be dedicated to primary and secondary education--but
is not a permanent solution and will not provide as much revenue as
the state needs.
This
sales tax increase--and additional revenue enhancement--is essential
for the state to continue to provide the public services necessary
to be successful in economic development. Without the additional revenue,
the long-term health of the Arizona economy will suffer along with
the economic well-being of the state's residents.
|
Paul R. Portney,
Dean, Eller College of Management, University of Arizona, Tucson |
We
ask Arizonans to vote in support of Proposition 100 which temporarily
raises the state's sales tax for three years.
As
a percentage of the state general fund, Arizona's budget shortfalls
are among the worst in the country. The current economic climate threatens
essential state services that must be sustained.
In
this situation, budgets must first be cut, and the legislature has
cut hundreds of millions of dollars out of the state budget. K-12
education has been severely cut, vital social services have been cut,
and universities have been cut by nearly a quarter of their state
support.
Federal
stimulus dollars have been a life saver, but will be exhausted by
2010. While the proposed sales tax increase is temporary, it will
be in place to absorb some of the shock when one-time federal stimulus
dollars disappear. The temporary tax increase will give the economy
time to recover, providing revenue to avoid further cuts to education
and other essential programs.
While
some say that raising taxes in a recession will worsen the problem,
studies show that unemployment created by massive public sector cuts
will hurt the economy even more - without taking into account the
long term damage that will result from fundamentally weakening our
education & research system and other necessary services.
A
state's education system is a crucial building block for the economy,
providing brain power and innovation to help a state grow quickly
out of economic downturns. Arizona's universities have managed some
of the largest cuts in the nation. Without these temporary sales tax
revenues, we fear that the universities will be pushed into a downward
spiral that will damage Arizona, diminish its workforce, and derail
its future.
The
temporary sales tax increase is a small price to pay for large benefits
to our state.
|
Dr. Michael M.
Crow, Paradise Valley |
Dr. John D. Haeger,
Flagstaff |
Dr. Robert N.
Shelton, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voters,
The
Yes on 100 committee is a statewide coalition of business leaders,
educators, civic leaders, parents and concerned citizens - Arizonans
from every corner of the state and from each political party - dedicated
to helping preserve education and public safety in every Arizona community.
Our
home state has been faced with the largest budget cuts in its history.
Even with these reductions, Arizona's economy still has not recovered
and the revenues that fund essential state services remain depressed.
We
believe that the depth of the problem is so severe that we cannot
solve it through cuts alone, not without permanently damaging Arizona's
quality of life. For this reason, we are encouraging every Arizonan
to vote Yes on 100.
Proposition
100 is a temporary fix to fund the state's most critical needs while
our economy recovers:
-
Support Quality Education - As you read this, the state's
revenues have fallen to 2004 levels. Since that time, however, the
state has added 162,000 additional students in grades K-12 and our
universities. The revenue raised by Prop 100 will be used primarily
to maintain 2006 funding levels for education until our economy
recovers.
-
Protect Public Safety - We must maintain the highest level
of the safety for our citizens. Until the economy recovers, we need
to find ways for Arizona to continue to offer the essential public
services that it provides to its citizens.
Now is the time to make a difference. As you no doubt know,
healing Arizona's economy and creating jobs requires an educated work
force and the ability to maintain safe neighborhoods and a high quality
of life. To attract new employers and jobs to our state - and to lead
Arizona into its second century - we must be able to offer these essential
services.
Please
vote Yes on 100
|
Drew M. Brown,
Chairman,
DMB Associates, Inc., Paradise Valley |
Philip L. Francis,
Executive Chairman, PetSmart, Paradise Valley |
Patrick J. Quinn,
Scottsdale |
Diane McCarthy,
Glendale |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Arizona Voter:
I
am honored to serve as the Chancellor of the Maricopa Community College
System, one of the largest higher education providers the United States.
The following is submitted solely in my capacity as an interested
citizen, without any use of public resources, and does not speak for
the Community College System.
Our
Colleges are recognized for their dedication to educational excellence
and for meeting the needs of businesses and the citizens of Maricopa
County. During these difficult economic times, we have seen our enrollment
numbers skyrocket, while simultaneously experiencing serious challenges
to our budgets. We are meeting these challenges by implementing difficult
and responsible financial policies. Our faculty and staff are also
working hard to maintain the highest level of quality in all our programs.
From traditional college courses, to focused job training and retraining,
Arizona's community colleges will continue to help Arizona recover
from significant economic challenges facing our state and citizens.
Arizona's
educational system cannot continue to lead the way, however, without
the basic resources needed to maintain basic services. That is why
I am encouraging you to join me in voting for Proposition 100. This
temporary sales tax increase will not solve all the challenges facing
Arizona's educational system and will not eliminate the need for additional
difficult budget cuts. It will, however, provide essential revenues
that will allow Arizona's educators to continue to provide the educational
services needed to help Arizona work its way out of these difficult
times.
Please
vote yes on Proposition 100 and help support the important work being
done to help Arizona's economy recover and prosper. Thank you for
your consideration.
|
Rufus Glasper,
Ph.D., CPA, Chandler |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Citizens of Arizona,
The
Arizona State budget has been a most difficult situation, but tough
times call for tough decisions. We greatly appreciate the Governor
and the legislature's willingness to work together to find a reasonable
solution to help fix Arizona's budget while preserving the state's
essential services.
WESTMARC
is the regional coalition of the leaders of government, education,
business and community organizations in Western Maricopa County, and
we are proud of our 20 years of leadership and advocacy. We believe
that Proposition 100 is a critical component to a state budget that
protects funding and public policies for K-20 education, healthcare
for the poor, and public safety.
Although
not an easy decision, we believe that a TEMPORARY tax is essential
to help avoid even deeper budget cuts while the state recovers. We
also believe that supporting education, protecting public safety,
defending healthcare for the poor, and protecting state shared revenues
for local governments are critical to making sure that Arizona remains
a leader in economic development and job creation.
It
is clear that Proposition 100 has the best interest of Arizona and
its future in mind, and is part of a responsible budget and plan that
not only minimizes and mitigates the effects of the economy on essential
government services but provides a path to restructuring our financial
future.
With
the future of the West Valley and Arizona in WESTMARC's mind, we strongly
encourage voters to vote Yes on Proposition 100.
|
Art B. Othon,
Chairman, WESTMARC, Peoria |
Jack W. Lunsford,
President & CEO, WESTMARC, Peoria |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
The
Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is a vibrant and dynamic organization
committed to building Arizona's economy and serving the needs of the
Chamber's diverse businesses. While our State continues to experience
significant economic challenges, our state's businesses and entrepreneurs
will undoubtedly recover and lead Arizona to a prosperous future.
In order to do so, however, we need our state must have the resources
necessary to perform critical services.
In
difficult economic times, businesses and governments must cut spending
where possible. As President and CEO of the Arizona Hispanic Chamber
of Commerce, I have seen firsthand how successful businesses and business
leaders respond and adapt to serious challenges. Even with such necessary
changes to government, however, certain critical services such as
economic development, education, and public safety must be funded
at adequate levels to ensure that Arizona maintains the foundation
necessary for its businesses to succeed and grow. Proposition 100
will not solve all of Arizona's budgetary challenges. Nevertheless,
combined with sound fiscal policies and reforms, this temporary and
necessary revenue increase will provide the resources necessary to
allow Arizonans to weather this economic recession.
Therefore,
I respectfully request that you join me in voting yes on Proposition
100.
|
Armando Contreras,
President/CEO, Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voters:
As
you read this, more than a million and a half people call the East
Valley home. They rely on our public schools and our publicly funded
transportation systems, on the hand-up of the state Medicaid system,
on our community colleges and universities, and on our police officers
and firefighters.
In
short, all of us rely on services funded by taxpayer dollars.
Right
now, because of an economic downturn that has decimated states across
America, many of those services are in serious jeopardy.
That's
why Arizona needs to vote YES on PROP 100.
With
our struggling economy draining billions of dollars from Arizona's
General Fund since 2007, our Governor and our Legislature have worked
to streamline all but the most vital of functions of state government.
While we at the East Valley Partnership remain confident that both
branches will continue to reduce or eliminate those "extras"
that can be reduced or eliminated, there comes a point where cuts
to education and public safety will impact the long-term health of
our state. We believe Arizona has reached that point.
If
approved by the voters, PROP 100 will allow the state a little breathing
room in dealing with a suffocating budget deficit, a hole that threatens
to cripple many functions of state government. At the East Valley
Partnership, we've worked hard for the past year or so to preserve
our region's quality of life and the state's fiscal integrity. To
do so today requires a YES vote on PROP 100.
|
Angela Creedon,
Chair, Board of Directors, East Valley Partnership, Mesa |
F. Rockne Arnett,
President & CEO, East Valley Partnership, Mesa |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
I
am proud to serve as the President of the GateWay Community College.
The following is submitted solely in my capacity as an interested
citizen, without any use of public resources, and does not speak for
the College.
During
these difficult economic times, our enrollment numbers have increased
dramatically, while our funding has been subject to serious cuts.
Notwithstanding these challenges, our faculty and staff are dedicated
to serving our students and community by providing educational programs
that will allow Arizonans to recover from the current recession.
We
need your help, however, to continue to provide excellent services
to our community. That is why I encourage you to vote yes for Proposition
100. This temporary sales tax increase will provide essential revenues
that will allow us to continue to provide the educational programs
necessary to help Arizona's economy rebound and prosper.
Please
vote yes on Proposition 100.
|
Dr. Eugene Giovannini,
Gilbert |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voter:
I
have been at the forefront of health care policy in Arizona for more
than two decades, including 10 years as chair of the House and Senate
health committees and three years as Director of the Arizona Department
of Health Services. I know firsthand how our most vulnerable residents
rely on critical state services, and I know the value of each tax
dollar.
Because
of the critical importance of these safety net services, I will vote
YES on PROPOSITION 100. I ask you to please do the same.
The
economic downturn has touched all of us, making money tighter and
forcing us to reconsider every area of our family budget. The same
has happened at the state level. With over $1 billion cut from government
services in the past year, the cuts in Arizona have been deep and
historic. The trouble is, demands on the state continue to grow.
While
revenues are down more than 33 percent in the past three years - and
sit now at 2004 levels - the state's Medicaid health care system has
added 475,000 enrollees since 2004, and more than 200,000 new enrollees
in just the past year. Many of these are people who never imagined
they would need government help, but the economic collapse left them
without jobs or health insurance.
While
some cuts are unavoidable, we can't compromise the essential health
care safety net that so many people rely on. All of us are affected
because those children and adults who fall through that safety net
will turn to our already overcrowded emergency rooms for medical help,
further driving up the cost of health care for everyone.
I
will VOTE YES on PROPOSITION 100. I ask you, please, to join me and
help preserve the quality of life for all Arizonans.
|
Susan Gerard,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Cities
and towns in Arizona provide essential services, such as police and
fire services, street maintenance, water and wastewater treatment,
parks and other amenities that make Arizona communities a great place
to live and do business. Decisions made at the statewide level also
affect the city or town you live in. The State of Arizona is experiencing
severe economic conditions resulting in hardships on our citizens
as well as major reductions to state and local government revenues,
making our state's economy one of the most troubled in the nation.
Since the beginning of the economic downturn, cities and towns across
the state have reacted responsibly to decreased revenues by reducing
or eliminating programs, improving efficiency, reducing operating
hours, and furloughing or laying off employees. Various solutions
on the statewide level have emerged to shift the responsibility for
a balanced state budget onto cities and towns, which could result
in further budget shortfalls locally. We recognize the need for this
temporary sales tax in these extraordinary times. Please support Proposition
100 as the responsible and realistic way to get Arizona back on track.
|
Robert B. Strain,
Mayor, City of Sierra Vista, Sierra Vista |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Fellow
Arizonan:
Please
vote YES on 100. As a long-time Arizona resident, and a former member
of the Arizona Board of Regents, I have watched Arizona weather countless
economic storms. But none is as deep or long-lasting as the one we
are currently experiencing. The reductions made in state government
have been deep and, for many, painful. Without this temporary addition
to the sales tax, Arizona's education, public safety and healthcare
systems will suffer further. It is not an exaggeration when I say
that the decision we, the voters, make in this election will shape
the future of our state in the foreseeable future. It is a test of
our values, our priorities and our character. I believe in Arizonans
and I believe that we will rise to the occasion and preserve the Arizona
we love. Please vote YES on Proposition 100.
|
Tio Tachias,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voter,
Times
are bad as we all know, but let's not shortchange our children by
cutting their education. They represent our future. They are counting
on us to supply them with all the tools needed for their success in
life. Please don't let them down. Let's keep their education a top
priority. Proposition 100 will authorize the necessary funding to
provide children with the resources they need to have a quality education.
Please, vote YES on proposition 100.
|
Mary Ann Cleveland,
Chairperson, C.O.V.E. Citizens of Vail for Education, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
The
state of Arizona is standing on the edge of a chasm that is much greater
than our national landmark. We are facing a drop in educational funding
that would make the Grand Canyon look like a pothole. Who can we turn
to for help? Is there anyone we can call to help fill the financial
void which is swelling before our eyes? Yes...ourselves.
During
this election, every registered voter in the state of Arizona has
the power to allocate money for education. How? Just vote yes to the
1 cent sales tax.
This
temporary, 3-year tax will provide much needed educational funding
to districts state-wide. Without this tax, all districts will be forced
to cut programs which are vital to the well-rounded education of every
student. Some districts may even have to close schools.
Since
Arizona is already ranked 49th in educational funding nationwide;
if we vote no, we are plunging ourselves and our children even further
into the darkness of a poorly educated future in which businesses
and residents will catapult themselves out of our state with fervor
and haste.
Without
the passage of the sales tax, we will further exacerbate our financial
problems by saddling our children with the burden of paying for their
own education like pack mules on an endless canyon expedition.
For
the sake of my children, their children and all of Arizona's children,
I implore you to vote yes and let's start climbing out of this chasm
together.
|
Kristi Hill,
Co-Chair, PAVE (Parent Advocates of Vail for Education), Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voter,
Proposition
100 will help improve the quality of life and boost the long-term
economy for Arizona residents. The issue of a temporary tax is not
one to be taken lightly. However, when you consider the fact that
Arizona is faced with one of the largest budget deficits in the country
and the fact that they have already cut $1 billion from state, the
picture becomes more clear.
K-12
education, university education, public safety, and others has already
been dramatically impacted by our current budget crisis. These essential
government services are the foundations of our quality of life and
the key to our long-term economic success.
Education,
public safety, jobs and long term economic prosperity are all interrelated.
Arizona must provide quality educated students to help build our long-term
revenue, and compete in the global marketplace. An educated workforce
and a safe environment are needed to attract high-wage employers and
businesses to locate in Arizona.
More
cuts are not the answer. We need a TEMPOPARY solution to maintain
our critical government services until the economy recovers.
I
encourage everyone to join in and vote Yes on Proposition 100. It
is vital to the future of the economy and to our quality of life.
|
J. Doug Pruitt,
Chairman & CEO, SUNDT Construction, Tempe |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Neighbor:
With
a career in state law enforcement in my recent past and as the father
of three young children, two numbers stand out to me above all others
as I consider the debate surrounding Proposition 100.
The 11,000 prisoners Arizona
has added since 2004, at a time when our state's revenues have fallen
to 2004 levels. These prisoners cost the state more than $400 million
each year.
The 145,000 new K-12 students
Arizona has added in that same time. These students cost the state
more than $1 billion a year.
Our
exploding prisoner count and our growing school rolls compel me to
vote YES on PROPOSITION 100 on May
18th. I ask that you please do the same.
As
a small businessman, I understand all too well how tough the past
two years have been on all of us in Arizona. Even so, I don't see
any other way to shore up Arizona's budget. The state needs this temporary
boost in revenue if we are to protect the safety of our neighborhoods,
protect the future of our children and keep Arizona the livable, secure
place we all rely upon and cherish.
As
a 24-year Arizona resident, a man who fought crime for a living and
a dad who looks forward to sending his two sons and daughter to college,
I hope you'll join me in voting Yes On 100.
|
Andy Swann, Past
President, Arizona Highway Patrol Association, Tempe |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voter,
The
Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association (AzHHA) is an organization
of hospitals and health systems dedicated to providing leadership
on issues affecting the quality, delivery and access to healthcare.
We recommend a "Yes" vote on Proposition 100 to ensure healthcare
is available for those who need it the most.
Rising
enrollment in Arizona's Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System
(AHCCCS), Arizona's Medicaid agency, has created even greater financial
strain on an already growing budget deficit. Since 2004, Arizona's
Medicaid system has added 475,000 new members and annual costs of
nearly $1.5 billion to the state's General Fund. In just the past
12 months, it has grown by 207,800 members.
Economists
agree that hospitals are economic engines for the state. It makes
no sense to weaken hospitals, particularly at this time when they
could participate in Arizona's economic recovery.
A
study conducted by the W.P. Carey School of Business at Arizona State
University's L. William Seidman Research Institute demonstrated hospitals
are significant contributors to the state's economy. They deliver
$11.5 billion annually to Arizona's gross state product. Hospitals
generate a total of 198,800 Arizona jobs, including 80,000 hospital
employees and 118,800 jobs created as a result of hospital operations
as well as the goods and services purchased by their employees. Hospital
employees account for 7 percent of Arizona's wages and salaries.
For
the sake of those in need and the economic recovery of the state,
we urge Arizona residents to vote Yes on Proposition 100.
|
John R. Rivers,
President & CEO, Arizona Hospital and Healthcare Association,
Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
I
am voting YES on 100. Very few people enjoy paying more of their hard-earned
income to the government. It is particularly difficult to ask citizens
to approve a tax increase in the face of the truly devastating economic
conditions that Arizonans have confronted over the past few years.
It seems natural, as well as noble, for policymakers to feel hesitation
to reach into our wallets and purses to a greater degree.
The
Governor and Legislature have worked to reduce or eliminate state
funding to everything but the most vital of functions of state government.
I am confident that both branches will continue to reduce or eliminate
those functions that can be reduced or eliminated. However, there
comes a point where cuts to education and public safety will impact
the long-term health of our state. I believe we are at that point.
If approved by the voters, this temporary tax increase will allow
the state a little breathing room in dealing with a suffocating budget
deficit, one that threatens to affect all functions of state government.
Including the ones you use, and the ones I use.
I
support the proposal for a temporary tax increase.
|
Dan Schweiker,
Paradise Valley |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
fellow Arizonan:
I
love this State and am voting YES on Proposition 100. While it is
difficult to ask hard working Arizonans to approve a tax increase
in the face of the truly challenging economic conditions, these resources
are needed to allow the State to provide essential and vital services
to its citizens.
As
a member of the Arizona House of Representatives, I have worked to
reduce or eliminate state spending where possible. And, we will continue
to work to reduce spending. Nevertheless, there comes a point where
additional cuts to education, health care and public safety will threaten
the long-term health of our state. I believe we are at that point.
If approved by the voters, this temporary tax increase will simply
allow the state to deal with its difficult budget issues, and preserve
programs that are critical to Arizona and its citizens.
I
support the proposal for a temporary tax increase and encourage you
to do the same.
|
Jack A. Brown,
Arizona House of Representatives, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Arizona Voter:
Like
you, I am committed to strong health care and educational systems.
As an Arizona State Senator, I am working hard to fix our state's
budget crisis, while maintaining Arizona's schools and health care
system. We are facing difficult economic times but we know that each
of us must do all we can to ensure that our children have access to
a quality education and that our state's most vulnerable populations
have access to quality health care.
At
the Legislature, I am focused on doing everything possible to balance
our budget through strong fiscal policies and tough decisions. Even
with decisions that have been made, including cuts, we simply do not
have the resources necessary to preserve essential services. That's
why I'm encouraging you to vote yes on Proposition 100. A yes vote
on Proposition 100 will provide a temporary sales tax increase that
will help us survive these difficult times. We will continue to make
difficult decisions at the state legislature, but we need this funding
to prevent drastic cuts that will threaten essential state education
and health care services.
Thank
you for your consideration and please vote yes on Proposition 100.
|
Linda Lopez,
Arizona State Senator, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Yavapai
College provides high quality, convenient, and cost-effective learning
opportunities for the diverse population of Yavapai County. The following
is submitted solely in our capacity as concerned citizens, without
use of any public resources, and does not speak for the college. The
college has main campuses in Prescott and Verde Valley (Clarkdale),
specialized campuses in Chino Valley and Prescott Valley, and centers
in Sedona and Camp Verde. Yavapai College offers 80 plus certificate,
degree and transfer options to students in more than 60 different
programs of study. In challenging economic times, Yavapai College
and Arizona's other community colleges are the learning institutions
that help provide training and education that lead directly to economic
recovery.
We
understand the need for tough fiscal decisions and are working to
streamline our College and make it as efficient as possible. Still,
without the revenues that will be provided by Proposition 100, Arizona's
education system will be subject to more severe and drastic cuts.
This is not sustainable or in Arizona's best interest. Proposition
100 funds will be used to help Arizona's economic recovery and help
Arizona and its educators develop an educated workforce that will
allow our state to prosper now and in the future.
That's
why we encourage you to join Yavapai College and educators and students
across the state, in voting yes on Proposition 100. Together, we can
and will build a stronger Arizona.
|
Dr. James F.
Horton, President, Yavapai College, Prescott |
Steve Walker,
Vice President, College Development/Foundation, Yavapai College,
Prescott |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voter:
Everywhere
you look in our state, finances are tough and resources are in short
supply. It's true in your house. It's true in my house. And it's true
at every level of government. Every one of us doing more with less,
finding creative ways to save a few dollars.
It's
not easy. And it will not be easy to VOTE
YES on PROPOSITON 100 at a time like this, but I'm going to
do it, and I'm asking you to do the same.
I'm
a YES vote because I believe that this temporary, three-year sales
tax, one penny on the dollar, is absolutely needed. Without our help,
the Arizona our families and our neighbors love and rely on simply
won't be the same.
For
the past 40 years, I've had the privilege of serving all corners of
this state. I've been the Executive Director of Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Northern Arizona. I served on the Arizona Board of Regents, on
hospital boards and worked as a mediator in our court system. I've
seen what our K-12 and university programs mean to Arizona, the necessity
of safe neighborhoods, and how non-profits and state agencies can
save the lives of those at risk. It's these core services that PROP
100 will preserve. That's why I'm a YES vote.
Help
our children. Keep our streets free of crime. Preserve the basic functions
that boost Arizona's quality of life. Please
VOTE YES on PROPOSITION 100.
|
Kay McKay, Flagstaff |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
My
fourth grade daughter Jazmine spent a recent Saturday working for
her uncle. He paid her $20 for her time. Well before the payment occurred,
my daughter had decided to use the money for a new pair of shoes.
On Tuesday night she discussed at length the color combination for
the shoes and she did her best to get a commitment from me for the
trip to the store. She just could not wait to buy those new shoes.
On
Wednesday night, the conversation at dinner took an unexpected turn.
My daughter told us she had changed her mind about how to spend the
money. She had heard adults talking about the budget crisis in our
state and the difficulties it was likely to cause at her school. She
decided that instead of getting the shoes she had longed for, she
wanted to spend her $20 on classroom supplies. My immediate response
was to explain that her small effort would have little effect on the
budget problem. Then I suddenly realized that she was taking responsibility
- choosing to make a personal sacrifice for the sake of civic responsibility.
I encouraged her decision as pride filled my heart. I knew how much
those shoes meant to her...yet she willingly gave them up. So we talked
about how many packs of paper, expo markers, and pencils she could
get for $20. The trip to the store was a celebration in service and
giving.
Please
follow Jazmine's lead. Please make a decision to support K-12 education
in Arizona. Please vote "yes" on proposition 100.
Your
vote - your pennies - matter.
|
Bonnie Banks,
Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Today,
we ask ourselves "what is the most important responsibility in
our lives in spite of our hard-times economy? You are right! OUR CHILDREN
AND THEIR EDUCATION. As an educator of 35 years in all levels of elementary
and secondary schools and 22 years of university teaching, I can vouch
for the quality of education and for the success of students when
they are given the community's financial support. So, join us in passing
the 1% sales tax to preserve quality education in our state.
|
Dorothy Jasiecki,
Retired Educator, Tucson |
|
Paid for by "Yes on 100 Committee" |
Dear
Voter,
Blue
Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (BCBSAZ) is a local, independent and
not-for-profit health insurance company headquartered in Phoenix.
With more than 1,500 employees statewide, BCBSAZ has been in business
in Arizona since 1939. Today, we provide health insurance, services
and networks to more than 1.3 million Arizonans.
BCBSAZ strongly recommends a YES vote on Proposition 100.
This
temporary sales tax proposal will help ensure that core health care
services for those in need remain available. It will also shore up
the state's education system, retain jobs and continue to move the
Arizona economy forward. While this is a difficult "ask,"
BCBSAZ believes there is no better solution available.
Faced
with double-digit unemployment and increased enrollment in programs
that provide health care for the poor, the state must continue to
care for those in need. Not to do so could risk federal funding for
critical programs. Even worse, it risks the lives of Arizonans.
While
revenue in Arizona has dropped more than 30 percent in the past 3
years, to levels not seen since 2004, the state's Medicaid agency,
the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS), has added
nearly a half-million new enrollees
since 2004 . This need for services has created an even greater
financial strain on an already growing budget deficit. In these tough
economic times, we must make sure we can take care of those who are
truly in need.
For
the sake of those in need and the economic recovery of the state,
we at BCBSAZ urge Arizona residents to vote Yes on Proposition 100.
|
Sandy Gibson,
Executive Vice President - External Operations, Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Arizona, Phoenix |
Sue Navran, Executive
Vice President - Internal Operations, Blue Cross Blue Shield
of Arizona, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona"
|
Please
vote yes on Proposition 100.
I
have the good fortune to witness firsthand the talent, potential and
contributions of Arizona's students. Arizona schools must deliver
the 21st century education needed by our children, businesses and
communities. Unfortunately, Arizona's education system, both K-12
and higher education, are facing a crisis like never seen before.
Schools
have faced budget reductions over the past two years and future cuts
threaten to undermine the very foundation of Arizona's public education
system. That's why I'm encouraging you to vote yes on Proposition
100. While this temporary sales tax will not solve all our funding
problems, it will allow us to preserve essential services and maintain
the progress that we have been making in our schools.
A
strong education system is necessary for a strong economy. Our children
deserve a strong education and our state needs a strong education
system to thrive. Please join me in voting yes for Proposition 100.
|
Kent P. Scribner,
Ph.D., Laveen |
My
Fellow Voters:
Proposition
100 is critical to Arizona's education system and its future ability
to create and sustain quality jobs.
As
you may know, to this point, Federal stimulus funds have kept support
for education in check - requiring the state to maintain education
funding at no lower than 2006 levels. However, as the stimulus money
expires in 2011, this mandate ends and the future of education funding
becomes uncertain.
Without
additional revenue, we risk losing jobs, undermining our education
system and eroding the quality of life that makes our state unique.
The top requirements for future job creation are an educated work
force and the ability to maintain public safety.
To
keep Arizona's economy healthy and to attract new employers and jobs
to our state, we must be able to offer these essential services. Please
join me in voting Yes on 100.
|
James E. Pederson,
Phoenix |
ARGUMENTS
"AGAINST" PROPOSITION 100
Say "NO" to Bait-and-Switch Tax and Spending Increase
Don't
be swayed by the desperate appeals of the spending lobby selling Prop
100's historic tax increase. Never forget these special interests
stand to benefit by having our pocketbook compensate for their lack
of spending and management discipline.
Despite
extravagant claims of record spending cuts, they count one-time raids
on dedicated accounts, future debt gimmicks such as "K-12 rollovers"
and the massive federal taxpayer bailout explicitly designed to prevent
states from shrinking the size and scope of government.
State spending was $6 billion in 2003. This year it's about $9.9 billion.
By 2013, it'll grow to $10.5 billion.
Only in government can such a litany be twisted into a tale of woe
about unprecedented spending cuts.
With
Prop 100, the spending interests demand $1 billion more annually in
sales taxes after engineering last fall's $250 million property tax
hike on homeowners and job creators. They clearly don't get it. Prop
100 will make it harder for too many Arizona citizens to make ends
meet and push more small businesses to close their doors.
A
sales tax increase might have been justified had certain fiscal disciplines
been enacted:
1.
reform of Proposition 204 which currently places one in five Arizonans
on state Medicaid roles;
2.
reform of K-12 school spending to wring out excessive administrative
overhead. We now spend less money in the classroom as a percentage
than we did in 2000 when Prop 301 was passed which promised to reverse
that trend; and
3.
passage of a comprehensive jobs creation program to make Arizona more
competitive.
Raising taxes should be a last resort, not a first resort .
Send a message to the tax-and-spenders - get your house in order before
you try to raid our pocketbooks again!
Vote
"NO" More Taxes!
Healthcare
(indigents, employees and retirees) and education consume about 70%
of Arizona's General Fund, and billions more in federal and local
taxes. U.S. spending in these areas greatly exceeds that of Japan
and other competitors, yet brings inferior results.
America
spends 17.3% of GDP on healthcare vs. less than 9% for Japan. Studying
others could bring much lower Arizona health care expenditures.
America
spends an estimated 5.7% of GDP on education vs. 3.6% for Japan. However,
comparisons of pupil achievement repeatedly find Japanese and other
high-school students substantially outscoring Americans. Inflation-adjusted
per-pupil K-12 expenditures in America have increased to about 250%
of 1970-71 levels and now total about $10,000/pupil in Arizona; meanwhile,
little if any improvement has occurred in 17-year-olds' national performance
on the federal NAEP test.
Arizona
should reduce costs by cutting many teachers' pay and benefits to
levels comparable to most private school teachers, increasing class
size to Japanese levels, allowing qualified 10th graders to enter
college (planned by eight states), and reducing overheads (nearly
half of staff). At the same time we can improve pupil outcomes by
lengthening our school year from 180 days to Japan's 240, increasing
parental involvement, and substantially raising pupil expectations
- while reducing costs to Japanese levels.
Potential
university savings include ceasing to pay professors for useless `research'
(99% of discoveries are made by 1% of researchers - Julius Axelrod,
Nobel-prize winner), both increasing professors' teaching workloads
and reducing overhead staffing to former levels, teaching more high-school
Advanced Placement classes, and cutting the almost half of admitted
students that don't graduate.
Vote
"NO" --> reform --> lower taxes and tuition, better
results.
|
Loyd Eskildson,
former Chief Deputy, Maricopa County School Supt. Office, and
Ancillary Services Director, Maricopa County Health System,
Paradise Valley |
In
2005 when I began my service in the State Senate, Arizona had a budget
deficit of approximately $450 million. As a member of the Senate Appropriations
Committee, I and the other committee members began to work our way
through the state's budget with a very sharp pencil. Our budget analysts
helped us through what seemed like endless spread sheets and we began
to cross out items that seemed illogical, items of duplication and
even some items of triplication.
While
our work continued, the real estate bubble began to expand. As property
values rose, the nation began a spending spree that resulted in increased
tax revenue to the State.
With
tax receipts on the rise, a majority of the Legislature was no longer
interested in rooting out wasteful spending. That year state spending
rose from $6.2 Billion to $8.2 Billion. The following year spending
rose to 10.2 Billion. State revenue continued to rise into 2008 when
the real estate bubble burst. As income began to fall, rather than
reducing state spending to match revenue, my colleagues continued
to spend at a still increasing rate. The 2008 budget rose to $10.8
billion. In 2009, budgeted spending was $11.3 billion dollars. During
the last 5 years government spending increased, outpacing inflation
and population growth by well over 100%. Some will make the argument
that we need to take more of your money to cure the budget problem.
I think you will agree with me that we need to send a message to Government
that the State should tighten its belt and learn to live within means,
just like you and me. Please join me in voting NO on proposition 100.
|
Ron Gould, State
Senator, Lake Havasu City |
I
was for the tax increase, in order to stave off the deficit spending,
the State of Arizona and many of its municipalities find themselves
in! Then upon thinking more on the deficit subject, it would only
be rewarding more deficit spending and passing the obligation to repay
the debt owed to future generations! This is in reality a very poor
precedent to set and a very ugly thing to do to future generations.
They should not have to pay for our follies! The state government
continues to keep early civil service retirements and paid holidays
that the private sector does not have and is taxed for. Why not save
millions and level the playing field and use it to pay on the deficit?
The private sector is not the only group that gets older and should
have their benefits reduced! When will it ever end? It is time to
say enough is enough to the government and vote no on the tax increase
and bring about responsibility by your elected state representatives!
|
David A. Rabert,
Sun City West |
Argument Against Proposition 100
Arizona
taxpayers need to work hard to defeat Proposition 100. This is a terrible
time to raise taxes on Arizona's struggling families and businesses.
Unfortunately,
the governor and many legislators are still not serious about dealing
with Arizona's fiscal problems.
One
sign that our politicians are not serious is that they have thus far
failed to move forward on giving the state a strong spending limit.
This entire deficit crisis was caused by reckless overspending by
government during the middle years of this decade. During the real
estate bubble, tax revenues came pouring in, and the legislators (with
lots of pushing from Gov. Napolitano) spent far more than was sustainable.
When the bubble popped, the revenues went away, and we now have to
make tough choices: we need to lay off excess state workers and get
rid of unnecessary programs.
But
instead of letting us vote on a spending limit, the politicians are
trying to get us to raise taxes and give them more money!
If
Arizona resorts to a tax increase, we will tell potential investors,
businesses, workers, and retirees that Arizona is the next California:
we are stuck in a cycle in which the government spends too much money
in boom years, goes into deficit crises, raises taxes to keep government
spending at high levels, and then repeats the process until it hits
bankruptcy.
If
taxpayers rise up and defeat Proposition 100, we will force the state
government to achieve efficiencies in government.
For
ideas on balancing the budget without raising taxes, contact the Arizona
chapter of Americans for Prosperity, at www.aztaxpayers.org, (602)
478-0146, or tomjenney@cox.net.
|
Tom Jenney, Arizona
Director, Americans for Prosperity, Phoenix |
Have
we become a nation of sheep?
Our
forefathers revolted against the British Empire over taxes on household
necessities such as tea, and England's general infringment of our
persoal liberty. The French people, likewise, revolted against Louis
XVI when he put a tax on their bread.
But,
today, if you go into an Arizona grocery store to buy basic household
goods, you must pay tribute to Ceasar by way of a sales tax of almost
9% for your staff of life. And, how do we, the people, react? Well,
we allow our politicians to increase and extend this outrageous and
oppressive tax, and even direct us to vote to increase this high level
of tax. No bread for our kids and grandkids, without a big cut for
our glorious leaders' pet projects.
Another
tea party will not give us back our daily bread and basic necessities
such as aspirin and toothpaste. We must vote out all politicians,who
refuse to lower taxes and reduce so-called government "services",
and, instead, vote in only those true patriots, who believe in less
government and more personal responsibility with private charity and
solidarity.
|
Edmund D. Kahn,
LCDR JAG USNR Ret., Tucson |
The PAChyderm Coalition strongly opposes this Proposition
Common sense and history tells us that government taking
more money out of the economy in the middle of a recession only increases
the depth and length of the recession. The 1920 depression was deeper
than the 1930 "Great Depression". Government tax cuts and
reduced spending reversed the 1920 depression quickly, while the 1930's
Progressive FDR policies increased taxes and government spending,
sending the economy into a ten-year tailspin. Learn from failures
or repeat them.
Compassion for citizens, especially those on fixed incomes,
who are currently being driven from their homes by ever-increasing
taxes must be protected. Reducing their disposable income further
will cause critical harm to those who are on the edge. The Greatest
Generation who fought for our Free Enterprise successes cannot be
discarded while we continue to spend millions on failed socialist
programs.
Consultants, Colleagues & campaign cohorts convinced
the governor to increase taxes from day one. To this date, there has
been no reform of government waste/fraud/abuse or eliminating "feel-good"
programs. When the legislature passed budgets with reforms reducing
the size/scope of government, they were summarily vetoed.
Reduced Spending, NOT Increased Taxes:
R econstitute critical service agencies and close "fluff"
bureaucracies
E liminate failed programs and amend deficiencies
F acilitate parental choice in education; direct 65% of tax$
to classroom
O rder immigration enforcement including deploying National
Guard
R educe property and income tax rates to stimulate economic
growth
M andate reduction in future size of government through Constitutional
Amendments:
F ight climate change/regressive green energy policies
R epeal Prop105 along with unnecessary regulations
E nact TABOR, Prop13, Educational Choice
E liminate duplication of services/programs
D emand accountability/transparency for all taxpayer$
O bey the Constitution, balanced budget without long-term
debt
M andate that ALL
state funds be subject to legislative appropriation
We strongly urge a NO
vote.
|
Don Goldwater,
Chairman PAChyderm Coalition, Phoenix
Paid for by "Pachyderm Coalition PAC" |
I
am appalled at the lack of legislative backbone/ability to balance
the budget. In opposition to any new taxes, why not look at cutting
the size of government, and being more creative in making new jobs
at the same time. Instead of stealing money from the Parks, why not
more private/public relationships with concessions and park cleaning
by the private sector? Why not also try this also with all of the
closed rest areas instead of endangering us on the highways. Don't
say "it's a federal law". If we had leaders with backbone
they could stand up to the Feds. Stop passing mandates and financial
cuts to the Counties, towns and cities. I am still paying the darn
bills! Why not have only 90 school districts (6 per county) instead
of 230 +. Imagine getting rid of a couple of hundred high paying positions,
boards, commissions redundancy, overlays, duplication and leaving
the $$ to the good teachers, the classrooms (Our kids! Our future!)
and cut the administration! Instead of continuing to ramp up social/medical
increases in the public sector, why not stop this drive towards socialism?
Stop the double dipping retirement system where public employees now
retire then can be at the same job the next day with a huge pension.
How about Health Savings Accounts instead of deluxe insurance for
the public employees? How about abolishing agencies that are best
served by the private sector? How about re-visiting some of the big
tax breaks handed out over 10 years old that are now just gravy for
corporations? How about challenging our antiquated drug laws that
are costing us? How about the legislature doing its job? How about
a private bi-partisan commission on cutting government so your butts
are covered from political fallout and then we accomplish something??
|
John Fillmore,
Apache Junction |
Since
the state of Arizona can afford to give 55 million tax dollars to
private and religious schools each year, and a similar amount of tax
dollars to public schools where the parents are more affluent, we
see no reason to increase the sales tax which will cause a disproportionate
burden on the poor.
|
Phyllis Wassenberg,
Tucson |
There
is no problem facing the State of Arizona for which a tax increase
is the proper solution.
Government
has grown far beyond the legitimate needs of Arizona taxpayers.
Advocates of
liberty
should look at this crisis as an opportunity to reduce the size of
state government.
Vote
no on this and on all tax increases.
ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION 100
Increasing
the sales tax by 18 percent is a bad idea. A good idea is to cut spending.
Whenever public spending exceeds revenues, the automatic solution
of politicians and bureaucrats is not to reduce spending but to increase
taxes.
In
order to pressure the public to support tax increases, they always
cut services to the public first, instead of reducing administrative
overhead, salaries, perks, and eliminating unnecessary expenditures.
Average private sector wages are substantially below government wages
and provide less vacation time and other benefits, while government
jobs also are mostly protected from layoffs, which is not the case
in the private sector. Government wages for comparable work should
be lower, not higher.
But
so far the solution to Arizona's budget deficit has been to close
many state parks, eliminate MVD offices, reduce library hours, while
administrative and other spending is not being reduced enough to make
a difference.
On
February 24 the Arizona Republic reported that the nine largest Maricopa
County municipalities pay $2.2 million per year in additional "car
allowances" to middle managers and other employees whose salaries
average $121,536. Many of those people never leave their office while
working. Phoenix spends $380,000 per year to provide a 24-hour police
detail to drive Mayor Gordon around- a sergeant and three officers.
These are typical of the expenses our governments have increased,
while the private sector suffers.
It's
time to cut out the fat, not cut out services in an attempt to pressure
voters to approve a tax increase.
VOTE
NO ON PROPOSITION 100 !
|
Robert E. Hannay,
Paradise Valley |
Argument
Against Proposition 100
Stand
up Arizona and fight the urge to solve our problems by raising taxes.
We all want great services from our government. I believe that the
State generates enough revenue to provide great services if the State
agencies are managed efficiently and effectively, and we cut out the
unnecessary waste in government. We need to modernize how we are doing
business in our State and it will not happen with continued band-aids
and bailouts such as a tax increase.
Like
our own households, Arizona government must learn to live within its
means. Continuing to raise taxes only encourages the bad management
that got our great State into this position. We must fight to defeat
Proposition 100 and send a message to our political leaders that they
must make the tough decisions to keep our State spending in line with
our revenues. Go to AZCHECKBOOK.COM and look at what is being spent
in State Government. You will see that there is plenty of room to
cut, streamline and economize. Over the last few years the State went
on a spending binge and now they want you to clean up the mess.
Not
too many years ago our State ran a surplus and had a rainy day fund.
We can do this again with the right leadership in State Government.
You have the power. Demand more from our leaders. Vote NO!
|
Pamela Christofferson,
Phoenix |
10 REASONS TO REJECT PROPOSITION 100
1.
Small Business Opposes It. A survey
of NFIB/Arizona's 7,500 small business members found 71 percent oppose
the one-cent sales tax increase.
2.
Big Business, Big Labor Support It.
Large out-of-state corporations, healthcare special interests and
government employee unions support this temporary fix to a chronically
flawed state government.
3.
Tax Hikes Are Job-Killers. This 18-percent
tax hike will further exacerbate major drivers of small business failure
and job loss--historically low consumer confidence and dramatically
lower consumer spending.
4.
Our Sales Tax is Already Too High.
Arizona taxpayers already pay the 5th highest sales taxes in the U.S.
Annually, the average Arizonan pays $1,440.83 in sales tax which is
43 percent above the national average.
5.
Double-Digit Rate for Many. Upon passage,
34 communities, more than a third of Arizona's cities, will have a
combined state, county and local sales tax rate higher than 10 percent.
6.
Private Sector Squeezed. State government
must prioritize, economize and downsize rather than load heavier tax
burdens on our citizens and small businesses.
7.
Over-Promising. One cent of last year's
sales tax collected $751 million. Proposition 100 proponents make
the unbelievable claim that their additional one cent will raise $943
million next year, $968 million the next and $1 billion in the third
year.
8.
Under-Delivering. Even accepting $2.911
billion in new revenue, the state's structural budget deficit will
still total more than $6.5 billion over the three-year life of the
tax hike.
9.
Inevitable Spending Cuts. With annual
deficits remaining in the billions of dollars even after passage,
threats to popular spending programs will remain and grow.
10.
Common Sense. "The last thing
we want to do is raise taxes in the middle of a recession," President
Barack Obama, August 5, 2009.
|
Farrell Quinlan,
State Director National Federation of Independent Business -
Arizona, Phoenix |
Michael A. Crowe,
Chairman, Leadership Council National Federation of Independent
Business - Arizona, Mesa |
|
Paid for by "NFIB/Arizona" |
As
a State Senator, I was a strong opponent of this tax increase and
continue to oppose it. It is bad for the taxpayers of this state and
bad for Arizona's economy. When you want to turn an economy around,
you don't do it by taking more money out of the economy and giving
it to government. That is what this tax increase does. If it passes,
a billion dollars will be taken out of Arizona's economy and given
to our state government. This will not help turn our economy around
in Arizona. It will only further the economic recession we find ourselves
in.
Arizona
families will pay an average of $400 more in taxes if this tax passes.
This is money that many families are depending upon to buy groceries,
make car payments, and buy school supplies. This tax increase will
also cost our state jobs. Some estimates predict that our state will
lose over 10,000 jobs if this tax passes. With so many Arizonans looking
for work right now, we cannot afford to lose jobs.
Tax
increases are bad for our state in good times. They are even worse
in a recession. It's time for our state government to live within
its means and stop spending money it doesn't have. Join me in voting
NO on Proposition 100.
|
Pamela Gorman,
Candidate for Congress (CD3), Phoenix |
Arizonans
are suffering the worst economic reversal since the Great Depression
following on the heels of a housing boom that helped fund a large
expansion of government. Fundamentally, our state is in its current
financial condition because of excessive spending growth, not because
Arizonans are taxed too little. Our leaders, especially at the Executive
level have continually kicked the budget can down the road, failing
to take immediate action to rein in spending once it was obvious that
spending was out of line with what Arizonans could pay.
Our
economy cannot afford a 17 percent increase in the state's share of
the sales tax. Estimates from the Goldwater Institute indicate that
between 14,000 and 16,000 private jobs would be lost if this large
tax increase is passed. Arizona would be among the top 10 states in
terms of overall sales tax burden.
Given
that prior to the recession and for aperiod of years programs were
expanded both by initiative and by the legislature so that spending
increased much faster than population and inflation combined, it seems
clear that first priority in this present fiscal crisis is to determine
how spending can be cut. This can be accomplished through prioritization
and many other methods. Arizonans deserve better than gimmicks and
tax increases.
|
Brenda Schlomach,
Phoenix |
The
primary mission of the Valley Business Owners (and Concerned Citizens),
Inc. has always been to promote truth in government.
The
truth is:
- No
tax is ever temporary.
- This
tax is not about education, health and
human services and public safety.
- This
is a bait and switch scam to divert funds already designated for
these purposes to make up for a staggering misappropriation of public
funds.
It
is already the state's job to provide these services. In fact, they
are priority.
This
tax is business as usual. This tax rewards cronyism, special interests
and wasteful spending. This tax rewards failed politicians and the
failed policies that created the problem in the first place. This
tax feeds an addiction to tax and spend. Give them more money and
they will just do it all over again.
Politicians
may live in La, La Land, but we are forced to live in the real world.
We can't afford any more taxes. To force
beleaguered families to tighten their belts because state government
doesn't want to do its job is unconscionable.
In
the name of public safety, government services, and education the
state wants an 18% increase. It is not only the state that concocted
this scam! The Town of Gilbert wants a 17% increase. When is enough,
enough?
It
is time we tell them all to go pound sand. It is time our elected
officials do the job we elected them to do. Public safety and education
should already be priority number one.
We
do not have to designate a tax for a priority that already exists.
We need to prioritize and cut back on spending.
VOTE NO on Prop 100. Tell the Government, "We are Taxed
Enough Already!"
|
David Molina,
President, Mesa |
Janeva A Hibbard,
Treasurer, Gilbert |
|
Paid for by "Valley Business Owners (and Concerned Citizens),
Inc." |
A
DAY OF RECKONING
It's
sad to watch. Elected officials, who promise to look out for their
neighbors, suddenly become the enablers for a growing Cancer called
Government.
The
growth in public spending at all levels has sent our Cities, State
and Country into crippling financial dependency. Our elected State
leaders, after years of over spending, have concluded that protecting
Government spending is now more important than protecting our jobs.
Led
by the usual big spending cheerleaders, "Government Employees"
and "The Arizona Republic Newspaper", we are being begged
to vote for an 18% increase in our sales tax. This is a ridiculous
request, and our collective answer must be NO. The negative impact
of higher taxes in a depressed economy is just one reason to vote
NO. Government must learn to live within its means. Allowing higher
taxes as a way to bail out years of reckless spending sends the wrong
message.
We
must not defer tough choices in order to make it easier for Government
bureaucrats to buy friends. Ignore the Scare tactics and empty editorials;
for big spenders this is a time of reckoning. Voting NO is your opportunity
to insure real reform and accountability, with a smaller Government
as an added bonus.
|
Kevin M Ross,
Former Maricopa County Assessor, Gilbert |
Vote
NO on increasing the already too high state sales tax
Do
not cave in to threats that we must increase the undependable and
regressive (puts burden on those least able to pay) sales tax in order
to avoid fatal cuts in vital programs like juvenile justice, GED diploma,
K-12 education, universities and health care.
We
cannot trust the state government to use the money to fund these programs
if we increase the sales tax. Instead they will continue to PERMANENTLY
cut more progressive taxes as they have done for many years.
The
legislature has already aggravated budget problems by radically decreasing
state revenue - Examples: deeply cut and flatten income tax, cut property
taxes and shift burden from businesses to homeowners, divert tax money
from K-12 education by increasing tax credits to individuals and businesses
who donate to private schools.
This
shift from progressive revenue sources to sales tax has been a major
cause of the budget crisis we now face. Increasing the sales tax will
discourage retail sales that businesses desperately need to increase
in order to survive.
The
legislature has a long track record of neglecting health, education
and social services even when they had the money. And if we give them
more sales tax, they will not support them now.
Since 1952 at least two state "education" sales tax increases
vanished into the general fund and the state did not increase support
for education. Recently voters approved yet another "education"
sales tax. It paid some earmarked costs but overall education support
has not improved.
We
won't save our vital programs if we continue to allow more sales tax
increases so the legislature can then permanently cut more taxes on
those most able to pay.
STOP
this financial suicide. Vote NO
The
1% increase will shrink the consumer's purchasing power even more.
It acts as a regressive tax, as the proposal wants to tax some food
items once again along with services that all of the population uses
regardless of income levels.
Let's
tax private party automobile sales instead, easily collected at the
registration window at ADOT authorized offices, easily calculated
by using any number of weekly value guides, i.e. Black Book, Kelly
Blue Book, etc. Assess the tax based on "average" value
and permit the buyer to appeal if the vehicle shows excessive miles
or wear.
No
cheating, just compliance. Maybe we can continue funding school sports,
advanced placement classes, and counseling. California and Texas are
two of the many states that don't exempt private party sales from
tax. This isn't a fresh idea.
The
general public will be key beneficiaries of this alternative. Car
dealers are aggressively involved with their local communities through
donations and charity work. They are high volume employers and hire
the handicapped. The dealerships could use a more level playing field.
Title status would be determined at that time to be legitimate and
serve to inspire "clean" transactions that will help eliminate
fraudulent representations by sellers.
Many
local vendors all have the same opinion. Internet sales avoid sales
tax, so it's increasingly harder to compete as a local business. The
extra 1% sales tax may not sound like much, but these days shoppers
are looking for every penny. Look for more small Arizona businesses
to fold and more joblessness if the sales tax increase is approved.
Vote NO on proposition 100
Your
NO vote will help protect
Arizona's future
Arizona
taxpayers regardless of their political affiliation need to work hard
to defeat Proposition 100 that will be on the May 18 state special
election ballot.
The
reality is that Proposition 100 is an 18 percent
increase in your state sales tax. That's big, especially
to those on fixed incomes.
Defeating
Proposition 100 will not be easy. In a low-turnout election, the sky-is-falling
propaganda from public employee unions, AHCCCS providers and other
progressives' interests could persuade uninformed voters.
You
cannot tax your way out of a recession. This tax and spend philosophy
will make the current fiscal problem worse and set Arizona up or a
long-term fiscal catastrophe. The sales tax increase will allow unrestrained
growth in the size and scope of the very bureaucracies that created
the problems. In 2013, when the tax goes away, we will face an increased
structural deficit of a billion dollars a year.
Passage
would also damage our economy in other critical areas--at a time when
we're already hurting. We have record unemployment, foreclosures and
homes on the market.
By
resorting to a tax increase instead of reducing spending, we will
lose jobs (up to 24,000 according to the Goldwater Institute) and
tell potential investors, businesses, workers, and retirees that Arizona
is the next California: we must stop the cycle in which the government
spends too much money in boom years, goes into deficit crises, raises
taxes to keep government spending at high levels, and then repeats
the process until it hits bankruptcy.
Taxpayers
need to rise up and Vote NO
on Proposition 100 to force the state government to get serious about
achieving efficiencies in government.
|
Thayer Verschoor,
Chairman Ax The Tax, Gilbert |
Diane Douglas,
Treasurer Ax The Tax, Glendale |
Russell Pearce,
Ax The Tax, Mesa |
Buz Mills Says NO on Proposition 100
Now is not the time to raise taxes
Professional
politicians just don't get it.
When
they see a budget that has $9.5 billion in spending, and revenues
of only $6 billion, what do they do? They tell us that we're not paying
enough and then try to raise taxes.
The
recession has cost over 300,000 of my fellow Arizonans their jobs,
and the collective political response is to
raise taxes ? The last thing the people of Arizona can afford
is a tax increase.
When
I see a budget deficit, I see a responsibility to
cut spending . I will NOT raise your taxes.
As
a businessman, that's how I've always approached the tough times.
There are times when you have to scale back and tighten your belt.
You balance the budget by making touch decisions and cutting expenses.
Government should be no different. Yet, government spending
increased 57% from 2004 - 2009 even though there were clear
signs of an economic slowdown.
Governor
Jan Brewer's response to the budget crisis has been to raise taxes.
She raised property taxes last year and now her plan to raise the
statewide sales tax will be before you on the May ballot. This is
an 18 percent sales tax rate increase (from 5.6% to 6.6%), and will
give Arizona the 5th highest sales tax rate
in the U.S. That's not leadership - it's the politician's response
to dump their problems onto others.
It's
the wrong plan at the wrong time.
I
am voting `NO' on Prop. 100. It's time to cut government spending
. . . not raise taxes.
|
Buz Mills, Scottsdale |
|
Paid for by "Buz Mills for Governor" |
No
on Proposition 100
Are
taxes in Arizona too low?
That's
the question to ask before you cast your vote on Prop. 100, which
raises Arizona's sales tax rate by 17.8 percent.
Arizona's
budget problem is due to excessive spending, not because taxes are
too low.
In
fact, when combined with local sales taxes, Arizona's average statewide
sales tax rate is already the 9th highest in the country. If Prop.
100 passes, we will have the 3rd highest combined rate in the country
behind only Tennessee and California (according to the Tax Foundation).
Raising taxes in recession just destroys jobs, over 14,000 according
to a study by the Goldwater Institute. We need tax policies that help
create jobs not destroy them.
When
the economy was thriving just a few years ago, Arizona's budget exploded.
After double-digit increases in revenues, politicians responded with
double-digit increases in spending. Now that the economy has tanked
and government is essentially broke, politicians want to tax us more
to bail them out. Does this make sense?
We
need to use this historic budget crisis to make cuts in spending,
not raise taxes. We need to restructure government. Make it leaner,
smaller, and more efficient. This won't happen with a tax increase.
Please
vote No on Proposition 100.
|
Steve Voeller,
President, Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Phoenix |
Dean Riesen,
Chairman, Arizona Free Enterprise Club, Phoenix |
|
Paid for by "Arizona Free Enterprise Club"
|
Just Vote NO
Raising the state sales tax by 18% will make Arizona's budget
crisis worse. The problem with Arizona State Budget deficit is not
too low taxes, it is out of control spending. Placing the responsibility
where it belongs, the spike in spending across state government was
caused by the reckless overspending demands of Governor Napolitano.
The
creation of new programs and increasing the number of eligible recipients
did much more than just increase immediate spending. The programs
also created expectations of new rights that are treated as untouchable
by many at the Capitol. The fact is these programs cost far more than
is reasonable or sustainable.
In
addition, it appears many who have the responsibility of determining
public spending priorities do not recognize the seriousness of our
current fiscal crisis, because they refuse to even talk about the
largest single expenditure in the budget.
According
to JLBC and the Superintendent's Report for 2009, Arizona K-12 schools
are now given more than twice the tax dollars they received only six
years ago. In fact, the percentage of Arizona Tax Revenues spent for
K-12 has grown from 43% in 2003 to over 80% this year.
Unless
we deal with an area that consumes this huge portion of our tax revenues,
we will not solve Arizona's out-of-control spending problem. If we
ignore this vital area, we will surely fail to move toward financial
solvency.
Long-term,
we need a strong spending limit for state government and we exhort
our fellow legislators to pass appropriate legislation this session.
It's
time for the taxpayers of this state to say
NO to "fluff" programs;
NO to the status-quo of waste, fraud and abuse in the system;
and NO to this bad Proposition.
Don't
raise taxes. Cut the spending.
|
Thayer Verschoor,
State Senator and Chairman Arizona Budget Commission, Gilbert |
Laurin Hendrix,
State Representative LD22, Gilbert |
|
Paid for by "Elect Thayer Verschoor" |
Arizonans
are struggling to make ends meet. Consumer confidence is at all time
lows, unemployment is high, and sales of big ticket items like cars
and homes are down dramatically.
Yet,
last September Governor Brewer used her line-item veto power to INCREASE
spending by nearly half a billion dollars after RAISING property taxes
by a quarter billion dollars! (This is why many Arizonans saw their
home values drop but property taxes increase). As a result, state
spending hit historic highs last fall, with October being the second
most expensive in state history, and November the HIGHEST IN STATE
HISTORY!
Faced
with the possibility of bouncing checks, in January the Governor SOLD
the State Capitol and spent the cash in five days.
Now
you are being asked to raise sales taxes by 18% to bailout the Government
for continued fiscal mismanagement. You have been told this is the
only way to solve this problem, but there is another way. Half of
next year's $3 billion budget "deficit" is just to maintain
President Obama's "stimulus" spending levels. Arizona can
get out of this fiscal mess by freezing spending and restructuring
our existing debt.
Don't
take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. I put every dime the
state collects and spends online at www.AZcheckbook.com
. Ignore the scare tactics, and make up your own mind; after all it
is YOUR MONEY, not the government's.
We
must stabilize this economy by attracting people to move into these
vacant homes, and attract economic investment to create jobs. We cannot
do that by making it more expensive to live and work here.
We
need to reduce spending, and create jobs, not take more from existing
taxpayers.
Vote
NO on this government bailout. If we have to live within our means,
shouldn't government?
|
Dean Martin,
State Treasurer, Phoenix |
Regardless
of what this tax increase is needed for, and regardless of how much
it's needed, there is one overriding, inescapable truth: The people
of this state are taxed to a level that precludes any tax increase
at this time.
Just
as our citizens have to face the harsh reality of job loss and also
of foreclosure, our elected officials need to realize that they need
to try something else because our citizens have all of the financial
problems they can handle. Our unemployment rate is at a level not
seen since the Great Depression and we are facing a second wave of
foreclosures.
There
are still plenty of reasonable cuts that can be made and government
inefficiencies that can be corrected. And that doesn't include stupid
things like selling state buildings and buying them back at twice
the price.
There
is an enormous number of tax loopholes that have been put in place
over the years by people who have lawyers and influence and who aren't
paying their fair share. The legislature hasn't even looked at closing
those loopholes, which should have done before
proposing a regressive tax falls most heavily on those who can least
afford it.
The
Pima Association of Taxpayers is not opposed to fair and reasonable
taxes. But we cannot believe that Arizona's is leadership is so insensitive
and out of touch with the current situation that they would waste
our tax money to hold an election on this issue,
The
Pima Association of Taxpayers urges a massive "NO" vote
to send them a message that they apparently need. Taxpayers are invited
to check our website: PimaAssocianOfTaxpayers.com for news and information
during the campaign.
|
John Kromko,
President, Tucson |
Richard E. Basye,
V.P., Pima Association of Taxpayers, Tucson |
|
Paid For by "The Pima Association of Taxpayers"
|
This
enormous tax increase is an addition to a problem that has been getting
worse and worse in our country, and is now threatening our country
itself.
There
was a time when corporations paid their fair share of taxes, which
enabled us to build the vast infrastructure which contributed to America's
power and greatness. The corporate income tax, at one time, accounted
for approximately one-third of government revenue. Those times are
long gone, and now corporations pay very little income tax. Many very
large and very profitable corporations pay no income tax and all.
This
has been accomplished by shifting the burden of taxation on to the
backs of middle-class Americans.
The
Tea Party has it right that taxes have become very burdensome. But
they don't have it right about the cause.
Government
spending is the cause of taxes of course, but spending has not increased
enough to account for what has happened in our state and our country.
For
example, and few years ago we had to pass a statewide sales tax because
there wasn't enough money for education. Just before that, corporate
and business taxes had been reduced by approximately $300 million
per year for 10 consecutive years.
Corporations
often support increases in the sales tax because it is a tax that
they generally don't pay.
People
especially can't afford to pay this sales tax because other jurisdictions
are also increasing taxes. Indeed, the hated sales tax on food is
starting to reappear. Years ago I did an initiative petition which
resulted in the repeal of the state tax on food, but unfortunately
cities are able to impose this very regressive tax.
|
John Kromko,
Former State Representative, Tucson |
Argument
"Against" Sales Tax Increase
An
Economic Sink, Cut Costs and Eliminate Exemptions First
The
proposal to increase State Sales Tax by 1% is not in the best interest
of the citizens and consumers of the State of Arizona as such tax
is a "regressive" economic maneuver that results in an "Economic
Sink". An "Economic Sink" results when money is taken
from the general economy and given to government that does not produce
goods and services. In essence its money down the drain that hurts
our economy vs benefits it.
The
real solution to budget deficits in the State of Arizona is to cut
operating costs and size of government and eliminate "Sales Tax
Exemptions". Currently examples of businesses that collect no
sales taxes yet use all of our state services are CPA's who prepare
tax returns ( product), Architects and Engineers who produce drawings,
renderings and engineering specification documents ( All of which
are Products) , Lawyers who produce wills, trusts, contracts etc etc
( the Products). I could go on and on listing businesses that are
EXEMPT from Sales taxes. Ask yourself, why should a photographer who
spends his time taking a photograph ,developing the photo and then
selling it have to collect sales taxes when the same or similar business
entities which examples are listed above not collect sales tax but
use all of our state services. The answer is simple they are EXEMPT.
Please
vote against increasing sales taxes and harming our economy further.
|
Philip A. Vickers,
A small business owner and former practicing CPA, Sedona |
|
|
|
PROPOSITION
100 ~ SAMPLE BALLOT/BALLOT FORMAT |
|
|
Webmaster Note: The online version of the sample ballot and ballot format represented in html below is not the official format of the ballot. The paper version as published by the office is the official format.
SAMPLE BALLOT/BALLOT FORMAT
|
PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ARIZONA CONSTITUTION
BY THE LEGISLATURE RELATING TO TEMPORARY TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE
AND USE TAXES |
|
PROPOSING
AN AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA; AMENDING ARTICLE
IX, CONSTITUTION OF ARIZONA, BY ADDING SECTION 12.1; RELATING
TO TEMPORARY TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE AND USE TAXES. |
|
TEMPORARILY INCREASES THE STATE TRANSACTION PRIVILEGE (SALES)
AND USE TAX BY ONE CENT PER DOLLAR FROM JUNE 1, 2010 THROUGH
MAY 31, 2013 FOR THE PURPOSE OF FUNDING PRIMARY AND SECONDARY
EDUCATION, HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND PUBLIC SAFETY.
|
| |
|
| A
"yes" vote shall have the effect of temporarily
adding one cent per dollar to the transaction privilege (sales)
and use tax for three years for the purpose of funding primary
and secondary education, health and human services and public
safety. |
YES |
|
A "no" vote shall have the effect of keeping the
transaction privilege (sales) and use taxes at their current
rates. |
NO  |
The Ballot Format displayed in
HTML reflects only the text of the Ballot Proposition and does not
reflect how it will appear on the Special Election Ballot.
Spelling, grammar, and punctuation were reproduced as submitted in
the "for" and "against" arguments.
