Cities and counties in Arizona are also struggling to fill positions because of low pay, and Ducey said in his state of the state address last week that his 15% pay hike would make troopers the best paid officers in the state. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. DeSantis currently uses a $15.5 million Cessna Citation Latitude jet, bought in 2019 after he took office, succeeding former Gov. Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. 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 the University of Arizona. "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.". The fiscal year 2023 budget was. Kathryn Palmer. As of April 8, 2021, both bills have passed where they were introduced and are awaiting full-floor discussions in the other. The budget also makes a $1.1 billion deposit into the pension fund for public safety and corrections officers, paying off the states unfunded liability for future retirement benefits. Have a story idea or tip? HB 2805 was introduced by Republican Representative David Cook. These cookies do not store any personal information. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. 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. % of gross taxable wages starting January 2023. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. The Department of Administration, which functions as state government's human-resources department and works directly for Ducey,gave at least 245 employees roughly half of itsstaff pay raises that average 18 percent, or an $11,496 increase. The plan includes a handful of small, targeted tax cuts for farm machines and private planes but no large scale reductions. 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. Reach the reporter at craig.harris@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8478 or on Twitter @charrisazrep. 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. That is far short of the $1 billion commitment he made in his State of the State speech. 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. It allows state and local governments to boost pay by up to $13 per hour for essential workers and allows a maximum per-employee amount of $25,000. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. Fiscal Year 2022-23 The Arizona State Retirement System Board of Trustees announced Friday, November 12, 2021 that qualified retirees will receive a Permanent Benefit Increase (PBI) to their monthly annuities, beginning with their July 2022 benefit check. It allows state and local governments to. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, is the General Election and all state government employees are encouraged to vote. has given 44 of his staff members raises of up to 20 percent each. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. It does not call for a second raise or a cut to the number of weeks people can get paid. Doug Ducey to dole out money from the State and Local Fiscal Recovery Fund only to public schools that do not mandate ma, Some legislative and congressional candidates hoping to be on August primary ballot will have to collect signatures with pen and paper to meet. The 12 districts are Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Leon, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Volusia counties. The average raise for a Ducey staffer was 11 percentsince he took office. The improbable bipartisanship was enabled by an unprecedented surplus topping $5 billion, allowing for a broad array of new spending and savings. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. "It really was just a stopgap to start trying to stop people from leaving because all the agencies around us have received considerable pay raises and we were still so far behind," Hawkins said. Any hours in excess of the maximum carryover limits are subject to forfeiture. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. GOP and Democratic leaders agreed to add $526 million in new ongoing funding for K-12 schools, a substantial increase from the GOP's initial proposal. 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. Keep reading with a digital access subscription. Every single budget's bad, Gray said. The Arizona Legislature on Tuesday began considering a $15.6 billion state budget package that pays down more than $1.2 billion in state debt but keeps in place most of a nearly $800 budget gimmick from the Great Recession, boosts road construction, border security and other spending but falls short of what education advocates say is needed to fund K-12 public schools. 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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. "The pandemic has really made it apparent that what you get in terms of unemployment benefits often isn't enough to support you if you're out of work, especially when you think about a national public health crisis," said Rowan. Rowan has spent the last few months going through unemployment data from states, giving context to the problems we are seeing now. 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. Posted: 4:27 PM, Jun 28, 2022 . Other state employee raises are reflected in the budget bill that is . The biggest share of the funds for higher education are linked to training in specialized fields. Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal. Two-thirds of Arizona is no longer experiencing drought conditions, an abrupt change following a surprisingly wet winter. 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. Lawmakers also agreed to technical changes in a formula for distributing money to schools and $4 million each for school testing and 2022 election costs. Duceys office routinely issues news releases when he allocates cash from the pot of COVID-19 relief money he controls, but that wasnt done this time. Doug Ducey or his political appointees have a much better shot of getting a big pay boost. 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. In his last budget plan, Gov. Sen. Sean Bowie, a moderate Phoenix Democrat, joined with moderate Republican Sen. Paul Boyer to push for more school funding, noting that in all more than $1 billion in new school funding was in the plan, with more than half ongoing. Lawmaker said 2016 legislation pushed by Airbnb and signed into law by Gov. Doug Ducey was expected to approve it. There is a growing sense that fallowing will have to be part of the solution to the increasingly desperate drought in the West. Instead, a proposal that looked close to being accepted by the two sides would put the $200 million into a school recognition program that would reward faculty and staff in "highly productive" schools that excelled even amid the challenges of the pandemic. Learn about Deferred Compensation and how this important employee benefit can assist you in Saving for the Future. The Arizona Legislature on Tuesday began considering a $15.6 billion state budget package that pays down more than $1.2 billion in state debt but keeps in place most of a nearly $800 budget. PHOENIX Buoyed by strong state revenues, Gov. 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. Right now, you can only earn $30 before benefits are reduced. Ironically, it was the Legislatures most conservative lawmakers who forced the hands of GOP leaders when they balked at initial, smaller spending proposals. You can also choose to enroll in the Delta Dental PPO or opt-out of dental coverage. A general wage increase of 3.25% for all employees who fall under WFSE's General Government contract A lump sum payment (determined by base income as of June 30, 2022) for workers employed as of July 1, 2021, who remain employed as of July 1, 2022, and earn less than $99,000 Do I get the lump sum payment if I work part time? The budget also makes a $1.1 billion deposit into the pension fund for public safety and corrections officers, paying off the state's unfunded liability for future retirement benefits. The Phoenix City Council approved an ordinance that keeps landlords from discriminating against renters based on their source of income. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. The budget does have a specific sensitivity to how the COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the shortage of nurses in the state. So prior cuts to business taxes have included some compensating tax relief for homeowners. Every single budgets bad, Gray said. While adults may find that sports gambling is a way to enhance the experience with more than just fandom on the line, it can be a dangerous proposition if children get involved in the activity. 1/. Pass it along to the KTAR News team here. Find in Google Maps Arizona tax rates have decreased and as a result, AZDOR has revised withholding percentages and is requiring taxpayers to complete a new Form A-4 for 2023. To access Y.E.S. The governor wants to hire. 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. Thn 5, x hong tn,th x qung yn, tnh qung ninh. But that $150 is less than Ducey wants to give schools that already have an A rating, up to an extra $429 per student for schools with a high number of children in poverty and $241 for those with fewer students in need. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. The improbable bipartisanship was enabled by an unprecedented surplus topping $5 billion, allowing for a broad array of new spending and savings. Eligibility is based on income, maxing out at $57,414 a year for married couples filing jointly who have three or more qualifying children, with lower limits for smaller families. Along with the across-the-board pay raises, other agreements were reached to finance $20-an-hour minimum salaries for state firefighters and correctional officers. Only a handful of dissenters from each party voted against the package of bills, and Republican Gov. About one-third of the top positions for Arizona state agencies received a boost in pay for 2015, with many of Governor Doug Ducey's new hires now getting paid substantially more than their . 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 employee pay raise bill got to the finish line with a $10,000 raise for State Troopers, up from the original $2,550 figure. 2.5-3% is an average salary increase in many sectors, including the government sector where federal employees will receive a base pay. Two bills are moving through the Arizona legislature that could bring more money to unemployment earners. Karamargin, Duceys spokesman, said there is increasing competitiveness in all sorts of jobs. Select the Your Employee Services > AZPerforms bookmark. 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. The other two aircraft would be available to the lieutenant governor, Cabinet members, Supreme Court justices, the House Speaker, Senate president and chairs of legislative committees and agency officials. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. PHOENIX (AP) Arizonas 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. They apparently succeeded Tuesday, but still unclear in negotiations was whether teachers and staff in these districts would be eligible for the new school recognition awards. The State of Arizona offers a robust array of benefits for State employees, including health and life insurance, short- and long-term disability, employee assistance, wellness programs and much more. The U.S. Supreme Court today let stand a ruling that struck down Arizonas policy of denying benefits for domestic partners of state employees. It does not call for a second raise or a cut to the number of weeks people can get paid. Three Kansas City police officers who were shot while serving a search warrant have been released from the hospital, Officials say one passenger died when a business jet experienced severe turbulence, forcing a landing at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, Oklahoma voters are deciding whether to legalize marijuana sales for those 21 and older. Virtual meetings will be held at various times throughout February, March and April 2023. Those fences also will feature no trespassing signs, a move that the Governors Office said is designed to allow police to prosecute those crossing the border illegally under state charges. 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. Only a handful of dissenters from each party voted against the package of bills, and Republican Gov. But lawmakers have reduced that amount, targeting $209.5 million for housing initiatives, but limiting rental assistance efforts to about $100 million, with another $100 million establishing a hometown heroes program helping first responders, teachers and nurses with down payment assistance. It's illegal for Gov. "We werent competitive at that rate," Hawkins said. The package of budget bills passed with overwhelming support, highly unusual in the modern era. 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. 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. Forty workers let go by the now-fired head of the Department of Economic Security got an early Christmas gift Friday: Theyre going to get their jobs back. You do not have to take any action. Any existing additional dollar amounts an employee had chosen to be withheld will not be changed. Using the money to provide premium pay for essential workers is allowed under terms of the virus relief law signed by the Democratic president last March. pay raises that average 18 percent, or an $11,496 increase. PHOENIX Arizona Gov. Arizona state employee raises 2022. 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. MORE:After firing auditors, state's Revenue agency gave raises to select employees. Floridas Republican-led Legislature has historically proved stingy with pay raises to public employees, many years doling out no annual hikes and keeping salaries low. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. 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.