http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/knau/local-knau-918745.mp3
Phoenix, AZ – Arizona law has the state pick up a share of what homeowners
would normally pay in school taxes. That figure now sits at 40
percent of basic primary taxes. But a provision in the budget
bill says that rebate will be based only on basic school needs.
What that means, for example, is the $2.3 million Flagstaff
spends on desegregation programs won't qualify. That move will
hike taxes on a $100,000 Flagstaff home by close to $19 a year.
Sen. Ron Gould said making the change is only fair.
(The taxpayers that districts don't have deseg are footing the
bill for the districts that did have deseg because that's coming
out of the general fund which is sales tax and income tax.)
What also will no longer qualify for the rebate are the extra
taxes the state allows small school districts to impose because
they don't have the economies of scale. That will add nearly $190
a year to the tax bill of homeowners in Ash Fork and almost $340
in the tiny Valentine school district. Legislative Democrats were
not parties to the change. And House Minority Whip Chad Campbell
said he can't necessarily dispute the fairness argument.
(The point is, though, I think springing this type of tax
increase on certain homeowners without any forewarning in this
type of economy is probably not the wisest thing to be doing
either.)
The hike is effective in 2011. For Arizona Public Radio this is
Howard Fischer.