Nobody loves a budget once all the compromises are made, said Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray, R-Sun City. 5 min read Despite failing to meet a late Tuesday deadline to finalize a 2022-23 state budget, House and Senate negotiators did manage to approve a 5.38% pay raise. Reach the reporter at craig.harris@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8478 or on Twitter @charrisazrep. DeSantis currently uses a $15.5 million Cessna Citation Latitude jet, bought in 2019 after he took office, succeeding former Gov. That includes $544 million for border security, roughly half of it for a wall, and $1 billion for highway construction, including widening Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande. Records show state Parks director was investigated in 2015, then given big raise, State Parks revenue, visitation (and some staff pay) rise under director, Ducey wants state to rehire tax collectors. The average raise for a Ducey staffer was 11 percentsince he took office. The average raise for a Ducey staffer was 11 percentsince he took office. Both measures will allow laid-off . The plan includes a handful of small, targeted tax cuts for farm machines and private planes but no large scale reductions. The Arizona Board of Regents approved the University of Arizona's . SB 1411 was introduced by Republican State Senator Karen Fann. Thn 5, x hong tn,th x qung yn, tnh qung ninh. It raises pay in January 2022 to $300 and raises employer premiums. That is far short of the $1 billion commitment he made in his State of the State speech. Ducey, who last year offered teachers raises ofless than1 percent,has given 44 of his staff members raises of up to 20 percent each. AZPerforms was successfully upgraded and is now available. But aides said that promise was for over three years, meaning after he has left office. The biggest share of the funds for higher education are linked to training in specialized fields. Arizonas legislature has approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan making substantial investments in public schools and new highways. Ducey hailed the deal, saying his policies of limited spending and regulation cuts can be credited for the surplus, although massive federal COVID-19 relief money also was a major contributor. But when the state alters the basis for how those taxes are assessed to reduce what business pays, it can shift the tax burden onto homeowners to pay for local governments, community colleges and other schools. Tiny majorities in both chambers meant opposition from a single Republican lawmaker was enough to sink the budget if Democrats were united in opposition. The Pima County Board of Supervisors had eight pay raise proposals to choose from, ranging from a low of 5% to a high of 10%. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. Two bills are moving through the Arizona legislature that could bring more money to unemployment earners. For agencies, boards and commissions under the State Personnel System, the maximum number of annual leave hours an employee may carry over into a new calendar year is, hours for covered employees. Arizona has a legal right to challenge a federal provision that forbids using COVID relief money for tax cuts, appeals court rules. You do not have to take any action. Jun 10, 2022 Updated Jan 20, 2023. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. That includes $544 million for border security, roughly half of it for a wall, and $1 billion for highway construction, including widening Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande. PHOENIX Buoyed by strong state revenues, Gov. DeSantis had called for pouring about $355 million into construction, home-buying and rent relief efforts. Retired state employees would get another one-time, 1% cost-of-living bonus on top of the 3% already approved for this year. By Associated Press Originally Published: June 23, 2022 10:52 a.m. PHOENIX - Arizona's legislature approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan early Thursday that will make substantial. It would raise payments from $240 to $320, with a second increase to $400 when the state's unemployment fund is back to its normal level. After firing auditors, state's Revenue agency gave raises to select employees. The proposal also has $80 million in a salary reserve allowing. PASSED Over the last eight years, Arizona has made responsible decisions to live within our means, reduce burdensome government regulations and increase trust in our citizens and the result is a booming economy with record revenues. Employees and managers can monitor annual leave balances by logging in to YES and clicking on, Agency Human Resources Contact Information, Public Safety Personnel Retirement System, Arizonas Employees Have New Tax Withholding Options. For agencies, boards and commissions under the State Personnel System, the maximum number of annual leave hours an employee may carry over into a new calendar year is 320 hours for uncovered employees and 240 hours for covered employees. This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. Their agreement adds $80 million in combined additional funding for Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University, bringing their funding boosts in line with additional money already allocated to University of Arizona. Doug Ducey or his political appointees have a much better shot of getting a big pay boost. Ducey released a 'recovery-focused' budget for Fiscal Year 2022, and he plans in making investments in K-12 education, public health, public safety, wildfire prevention, infrastructure and more, while also providing tax relief to residents. Virtual meetings will be held at various times throughout February, March and April 2023. Annual renewal required. Two-thirds of Arizona is no longer experiencing drought conditions, an abrupt change following a surprisingly wet winter. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The Associated Press, By BOB CHRISTIE and JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press. It appears those who are close to Gov. "Arizona came in second to last. The 33rd annual Glendale Folk and Heritage Festival will bring hundreds of performers to Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park Saturday and Sunday. PLEASE BE AWARE:To ensure compliance with AZDOR requirements, on 12/30/22, the State will change ALL employee records to the default rate of 2.0%. Ducey is seeking a permanent 15% raise for state troopers, 20% for juvenile and adult corrections employees and pay boosts for several other agencies that total nearly $250 million a year. HB 2805 was introduced by Republican Representative David Cook. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. click the box below and click the Login button under Y.E.S. GOP leaders decided to just take the easy road out, the path of least resistance and give up and just spend, said Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, a Scottsdale Republican who voted against the budget. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. All rights reserved. And it puts another $425 million in the rainy day fund to help the state weather a potential recession. DeSantis, Cabinet members and other state leaders also were helped by budget-writers Tuesday, who agreed to spend $31.3 million to buy two Embraer Phenom 300E executive jets, each with an 11-seat capacity, under legislation awaiting final approval. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. Republican leaders had struggled for months to craft a spending plan that could find unanimous support in the fractious GOP caucuses without relying on Democrats. 40 workers fired by ex-DES chief may get jobs back The previous Form A-4 withholding rates are no longer representative of the new lower income tax rates. Likely there will be some sort of compromise concerning the two state bills. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. The cost of living, while going up, is still lower than in other areas. I had a bill I really cared about that I wanted included in the budget, a tax cut for low-income working families, Bowie said. Arizona lawmakers approve bipartisan $18 billion budget, Arizona DPS trooper praised for saving driver, Pima County man sentenced second time to life in prison for deadly shooting, Man charged with murder after girlfriends 1-year-old son dies, Suspect killed in Tucson officer-involved shooting, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at 61. Strictly speaking, the state gets no property tax revenues. All Other Plans - carriers, premiums and coverage remain the same. 0. It raises pay in January 2022 to $300 and raises employer premiums. Gov. In K-12 education, negotiators reached general agreement on an almost $385-per-student increase in school funding an almost 5% boost that would bring funding to an average $8,143 for each of Florida's 2.9 million school kids. The firings of more than 100 auditors and collectors, who were among the lowest-paid employees at Revenue, ended up costing the state $83million in lost revenue. Arizona state employees get raises without needed OKs, Domestic partners employed by state gain win at Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court rejects Arizona gay rights case, YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS/PRIVACY POLICY. A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. That includes money for grants to schools for needed repairs as well as cash to begin three new high schools at Marana, Pima and Nadaburg school districts. Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal. The bill now heads to the Governors desk to await his signature to become law. Simpson, the Senate president, is running for the post of Agriculture Commissioner later this year and the spending provision sought by his chamber would not take effect until January 2023, when he could potentially be in charge of the department. The state Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry and the Department of Public Safety have been struggling to hire and retain officers, in part because of wages that are low or uncompetitive. The budget has nearly $600 million in new, permanent funding for public schools, up from about $330 million in the original proposal. A spokeswoman for the agency could not say how many of those former employees were considered bullies and liars as well. Arizona House Republicans back universal school voucher expansion, Arizona Legislature begins hearings on state budget plan as deadline looms, Surprisingly wet winter pulls most of Arizona out of drought conditions, Annual Folk and Heritage Festival coming to Glendales Sahuaro Ranch Park this weekend, Phoenix passes source-of-income housing discrimination ban, Police arrest student for bringing firearm to high school in Phoenix, Walmart Health unveils plan to open 6 centers in metro Phoenix, Southwest farmers reluctant to idle farmland to save water, Valley Boys & Girls Club uses esports to help kids make healthy choices, Sports gambling can be fun for adults, but its a dangerous game for children, Prep the plumbing in your home just in time for the holidays. They also agreed to technical changes in a formula for distributing money to schools and $4 million each for school testing and 2022 election costs. DeSantis supported what advocates call the putting parents first initiative, which would have taken millions of dollars from some of the states biggest counties and send the money to Floridas 55 other counties that fell in line with the governor on mask policy. The governor wants to hire back 25 auditors. Lawmakers now are certain to extend the session. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. The Evergreen State takes the top spot again in the U.S. News Best States ranking on the strength of its tech sector and other industries. A separate bill giving locality pay was scrapped in favor of this bill. She says one day, federal money will run out, so states need to start thinking long-term. Jan Brewer offered 5 percent pay raises to employees who became "uncovered," giving up certain job protections. Be sure to review the dental information above to see if it applies to you. has given 44 of his staff members raises of up to 20 percent each. The Phoenix City Council approved an ordinance that keeps landlords from discriminating against renters based on their source of income. Ironically, it was the Legislatures most conservative lawmakers who forced the hands of GOP leaders when they balked at initial, smaller spending proposals. With this budget, were putting those dollars to good use and investing in priorities that Republicans and Democrats alike can agree on.. He pointed to officer pay in Texas and California, where rookie California Highway Patrol officers start at $93,000 a year. With the holidays approaching, it's important to know when your home is in need of heating and plumbing updates before more guests start to come around. Lawmakers in the House and Senate ended a months-long impasse, working through the night to approve the budget shortly before sunrise. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. A Valley teenager was arrested on Friday for bringing a firearm to Moon Valley High School, authorities said. A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. Republicans are widely expected to expand their majority in the 2022 election thanks to new district boundaries that appear to favor the GOP. Nursing home employees also would reach $15-an-hour minimum pay as part of a 7% increase in Medicaid rates paid nursing homes that was also agreed to Tuesday. For. Arizona State Retirement System ECD employees participate in the Arizona State Retirement System (ASRS). Here's how well Ducey rewarded his staff, agency heads. The bipartisanship extended to opposition a handful of conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats voted against the budget deal. PHOENIX (AP) Arizona's legislature approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan early Thursday that will make substantial investments in public schools, build new highways and pay down long-term debts. The Senate completed action on a bill Thursday evening that will provide pay raises for state employees whose wages are outlined in state code. Republicans are widely expected to expand their majority in the 2022 election thanks to new district boundaries that appear to favor the GOP. Ironically, it was the Legislatures most conservative lawmakers who forced the hands of GOP leaders when they balked at initial, smaller spending proposals. Walmart plans to open multiple health centers in metro Phoenix as the retail giant expands its medical services initiative. PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Gov. Due to this change, every employee isrequiredto fill out a new Arizona A-4 form effective for wages paid after January 1, 2023 unless they qualify to complete: A-4VVoluntary Withholding Request for Arizona Resident Employed Outside Arizona, WECWithholding Exemption Certificate for Arizona Nonresidents, WECIWithholding Exemption Certificate, Native Americans with Instructions, WECMWithholding Exemption Certificate for Military Spouses. $400 million to complete another 20 miles of upgrading I-10 to three lanes in each direction between Casa Grande and Sun Lakes; $50 million for communities outside Pima and Maricopa counties to leverage federal dollars for shovel-ready transportation projects; $92 million for building repairs and upgrades in the state prison system; $8.2 million to increase the number of Adult Protective Services caseworkers; $177 million for projects at state parks, about half for sewage treatment systems, though $118 million of that is coming from federal cash. A salary increase with a chosen percent pay increase. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. Right now, you can only earn $30 before benefits are reduced. The Cigna DHMO Dental plan is changing to the UnitedHealthcare Solstice S800B DHMO (UHC Solstice). Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, is proposing a further reduction in that flat tax, to $1.5 billion. The budget does have a specific sensitivity to how the COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the shortage of nurses in the state. Take away federal money and pandemic extensions, and Arizona is left with a bare-bones unemployment insurance system. NOTE:Employees have the option to update their A-4 at any time during the tax year but are encouraged to consult with their tax advisor related to these new updates from AZDOR to determine how they may be affected. 100 N 15th Ave, #301. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, is the General Election and all state government employees are encouraged to vote. . This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. The package of budget bills passed with overwhelming support, highly unusual in the modern era. While a judge has said the tax cut is subject to referendum, there is still a challenge to whether there are sufficient signatures on the petitions. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. between 12/31/22 and 01/03/23 at 1 pm, the rate you may have seen may have been incorrect. Duceys budget director, Matt Gress, informed the Republican Senate president and House speaker of his decision to tap the funds for premium pay in a Dec. 9 letter. Tax cuts and revisiting voided pandemic restrictions also top agenda for new session. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. For more information, refer to the news story from AZDOR:Arizonas Employees Have New Tax Withholding Options. Doug Ducey is proposing a $14.25 billion spending plan for the new fiscal year, about 8.6% more than this year,. 1/. GOP leaders decided to just take the easy road out, the path of least resistance and give up and just spend, said Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, a Scottsdale Republican who voted against the budget. A starting correctional officer earns just over $35,000 a year before the 20% premium pay. The Senates proposal excluded current Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat and candidate for governor, from having access to the funds. Leave taken and/or accrued during the 12/10 - 12/23 pay period willNOTbe reflected in the excess annual leave balances posted in YES on the leave balances tab. Not so much, according to public records obtained by The Arizona Republic. That has proven a a nonstarter among lawmakers who have to go to those same homeowners every two years to get reelected. We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. The package of budget bills passed with overwhelming support, highly unusual in the modern era. I was told the choice is that bill or more investment in K-12 schools, and I chose our K-12 public schools.. "So acknowledging the importance of these positions at this time where staffing is such a big issue across the board, we thought this was a good thing to do.". Merit pay for selected workers raised the average pay for state employees by4.2 percent, under Ducey. Jeffrey Hawkins, president of the Arizona State Troopers Association, said the premium pay is sorely needed at the agency that not only patrols state highways but does investigations, runs a crime lab and does many other law enforcement jobs. While pay raises look settled, Trumbull and Stargel held a later Tuesday meeting to address dozens of other spending issues. Tiny majorities in both chambers meant opposition from a single Republican lawmaker was enough to sink the budget if Democrats were united in opposition. This equals the increase in the Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation. The governor wants to hire. Their agreement adds $80 million in combined additional funding for Arizona State University and Northern Arizona University, bringing their funding boosts in line with additional money already allocated to University of Arizona. Your Excess Annual Leave balances in YES will not be updated this upcoming pay period. May 6, 2022 Updated May 7, 2022 0 As part of House Bill 1, also known as the executive branch budget, state employees will receive an 8% across-the-board raise in the next fiscal year.. All rights reserved. Rowan has spent the last few months going through unemployment data from states, giving context to the problems we are seeing now. Any existing additional dollar amounts an employee had chosen to be withheld will not be changed. 2305. "We werent competitive at that rate," Hawkins said. Arizona state officials gave pay raises to 169 government workers without getting the required approval from the Department of Administration. Few events have the potential to impact technology and the government like the appointment of a new state CIO. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. Other priorities in the governors program include: $248 million for targeted pay raises for state workers. $5 million in 20 percent pay raises for Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections officers. Doug Ducey wants to grant pay raises to nearly half of all state employees, with an emphasis on boosting salaries for law enforcement and corrections officers. With the increase, Fann's bill cuts benefits from 26 to 22 weeks once unemployment is back under 4.5%. But with inflation rising and many state agencies struggling to hire and keep employees, lawmakers have adapted to a new political reality. Meanwhile, caseworkers dealing with the state's foster-care crisis got a $1-a-day raise. Also on Thursday evening, Senate made its way through its calendar, completing action on six additional bills and passing 11 others that will need to be finalized by the House. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. You have permission to edit this article. After losing support on the right, House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Senate President Karen Fann had to look elsewhere for votes, and they found them across the aisle. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Districts lose dollars because of masks: GOP lawmaker aims to strip state funding from school districts that defied Gov. Department of Economic Security Director Tim Jeffries has canned 168 employees since he was appointed department head in February, a pace of more than four firings a week. But the fate of dollars for the rural and family lands program remained in flux late Tuesday. Most of the spending increases that were included in the FY 2022 budget are one- time (versus ongoing), which ho nors a core tenet of the Governor's focus on fiscal sustainability and avoiding over-burdening the State's budget, as was done in the mid -2000s with disastrous fiscal consequences. Ducey also wants to put $50 million into border security, paying for more officers to patrol the area and help fund counties with the cost of detaining and prosecuting people for state crimes. The improbable bipartisanship was enabled by an unprecedented surplus topping $5 billion, allowing for a broad array of new spending and savings. Tune in to FOX 10 Phoenixfor the latestnews: By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. Arizona governor pledges $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to help students catch up. That includes the nearly $26 million for would-be nurses to go to the accelerated nursing program at Creighton University, with students having to promise to work at a hospital in Arizona for four years. Over the last eight years, Arizona has made responsible decisions to live within our means, reduce burdensome government regulations and increase trust in our citizens and the result is a booming economy with record revenues. This is what our state, where voters are nearly evenly divided by party affiliation, has long asked of us to work together, said Rep. Reginald Bolding of Laveen, the top Democrat in the House. 2023 FOX Television Stations. The added funding includes phasing in funding for low-income students starting at $50 million in the upcoming fiscal year and growing to $100 million in three years and special education. Rep. John Kavanagh's bill, HB 2131, would override any homeowner association rules requiring lawns to be seeded with real grass. The larger raise for troopers came out of debate about locality pay for state troopers in competitive areas, particularly Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. Every single budget's bad, Gray said. This is your TASC card account. Sen. Martin Quezada, a Glendale Democrat, spoke out against plans to spend $335 million for a wall on the southern border, which he said would be useless in stopping people from crossing. Any existing additional dollar amounts an employee had chosen to be withheld will not be changed. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. DeSantis on masks, Florida school districts rebel against governor's mask order, presenting political test, Helped by federal aid, Gov. The Supreme Court has rejected appeals from Arizona and Nevada involving the rights of same-sex couples. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved.