Upcoming vote on a one cent tax increase (sales, home)

[Valley Native]

I'm curious how the results will turn out. A recent poll indicated that a slight majority would favor the tax increase ... but I'd sure like to know who they are polling. Most everybody I know is against raising taxes, especially a penny per dollar increase on sales.

I certainly plan to vote on this ballot measure, and I'm voting a definite NO. Governor Brewer claims that there will be a "catastrophe" by 2012 if we don't increase taxes. Well, my response would be to quit spending existing tax money on things like public education (which already takes up more than 50% of the state's budget) ... and furthermore, Mrs. Brewer & everybody in the Legislature should volunteer to take a cut in pay & benefits.

The public vote is scheduled for May 18th. How do you plan on voting ... and do you think it will pass or not?

[las vegas drunk]

As I was growing up the sales tax was 6.7%. They have steadily increased it up to 8.3% where it is now I believe. It is already way to high, so I say no to another increase.

[observer53]

Since you don't live here, I assume you won't actually be voting on the 18th.

I'm voting yes, even though increasing sales tax i(or relying too much on sales tax) is NOT the long term solution to getting a more stable budget here. That said, we need a quick fix now.

[las vegas drunk]

The polls says "Do you favor a one cent tax increase?" I therefore gave my opinion. Of course I will not be voting.

[Valley Native]

Originally Posted by observer53

Since you don't live here, I assume you won't actually be voting on the 18th.

I'm voting yes, even though increasing sales tax i(or relying too much on sales tax) is NOT the long term solution to getting a more stable budget here. That said, we need a quick fix now.

A better quick fix would be to dump the most costly expenditure in the entire state budget, and that is public education. That alone would turn the budget around to the point where there might even be a surplus. Turn the schools over to private enterprise, or let the parents home school their kids. A sales tax hike would only pour more of our hard earned money into this black hole, as well as other wasteful programs.

At this point, cutting taxes is really the way to go. Arizona really needs to consider eliminating the state income tax, and lowering the rates on business property. This state needs to be more business friendly, and we certainly have the capability of being that way with our right to work atmosphere. You can't attract reputable firms with ridiculously high business taxes and a penalizing income tax. The entire system needs to be revamped.

[BillR1]

X3 on cutting the funding to public education!!
Our taxes are high enough...

[locolobo13]

It is never enough! Taxes have been rising as a percent of my earnings ever since I've been making a paycheck. And there is always something else that requires just 1 or 1/2 % more. Reminds me of a western I saw yrs ago. The bad guy insisted on owning 51% of every business in town. We're not far from that now.

[Ritchie_az]

Raising taxes never turns out to be the cash bag that everyone thinks it is. If the sales tax is raised, less will be purchased... less purchases means less profit... less profit means fewer poeple getting hired and fewer promotions... which means higher unemployment... which means fewer people have money to spend... which means some businesses won't survive... all of which means less tax revenue for the state.

Will 1% be doomsday? Of course not. Only a small percentage of folks will likely experience the effects first-hand (I mean, aside from having just a bit less to spend on groceries). However, the politicians screwed up so badly with the money we already gave them, so why would we trust them with more of our money? Won't they screw up just as bad or worse with it? Also, since raising taxes has a negative effect on the private sector, why would we want to put a further strain on our local economy? Shouldn't we be doing all we can to prop it up?

I'll go against the grain here and say that (IMHO) the correct option is to lower taxes, not raise them.

[observer53]

Turning the schools over to private enterprise? Won't ever happen, nor should it. Eliminate the state income tax? Watch property taxes, and others, SOAR. There has to be a balance. Completely eliminating any tax won't get there.

[Java Jolt]

Originally Posted by Valley Native

I'm curious how the results will turn out. A recent poll indicated that a slight majority would favor the tax increase ... but I'd sure like to know who they are polling. Most everybody I know is against raising taxes, especially a penny per dollar increase on sales.

I certainly plan to vote on this ballot measure, and I'm voting a definite NO. Governor Brewer claims that there will be a "catastrophe" by 2012 if we don't increase taxes. Well, my response would be to quit spending existing tax money on things like public education (which already takes up more than 50% of the state's budget) ... and furthermore, Mrs. Brewer & everybody in the Legislature should volunteer to take a cut in pay & benefits.

The public vote is scheduled for May 18th. How do you plan on voting ... and do you think it will pass or not?

Totally agree about cutting salary and benefits for the knuckleheads who run this state including the governor.

Totally disagree on cutting education funding.

Why are you so much against paying for education? Arizona is dead last in per-pupil spending already and the ultraconservative mentality wants to cut it even more. How is that going to help the state in the big picture?