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Schools Facing Uncertainty Over Taxes, Revenue

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noting that the rollover amount was $930 million last and sent the case back to the trial court.
year compared to $865 million this year. “I consider
the rollover the education recession relief valve – it’s Stein also mentioned the possibility of a referendum
someplace for the Legislature to go,” Stein said. “How that would prevent the tax changes passed by the
much will they roll over? I don’t know. I always worry Legislature from going into effect until the November
about that.” 2022 general election.

As far as the Legislature enacting a measure to increase On September 28, education advocacy groups that were
revenue, like a tax hike, Stein said it’s not going to collecting petitions to suspend the income tax cuts
happen because it takes a two-thirds majority in the submitted to the Secretary of State’s Office what they
House and Senate for such action. said were 215,787 signatures. A total of 118,823 valid
signatures of registered voters are needed to put the tax
So, what will happen in the immediate future? In July, measures on the ballot, giving voters the opportunity to
Stein said: “There are no easy answers – stay tuned.” accept or reject them. A process to certify the signatures
was undertaken by the Secretary of State’s Office.
Less than a month later, the Arizona Supreme Court
determined that the surcharge tax was not a grant, as Stein concluded her July presentation saying: “Nothing
supporters argued, and is unconstitutional in violation is easy when it comes to school finance in Arizona.”
of the education expenditure limit. However, the court
did not rule that the entire initiative was unconstitutional Randie Stein can be reached at: rstein@stifel.com

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