Posted on 06/02/2006 9:09:48 AM PDT by EarthStomper
If you don’t pay much attention to baseball until the World Series or if you’ve just started tuning in to Sun’s games over the last week, now is the time to keep an eye on your state legislature.
The budget is always “the show,” even more so this year because of our $1 billion tax overpayment. Gov. Napolitano is calling for a 22 percent spending increase, a clear case of spending because it’s there. Legislative leaders are offering their own budget, which amounts to a 19 percent increase. If Arizona had a spending limit in place, spenders would be restricted to only those increases justified by the growth of the state and its actual needs.
Unfortunately, because of the way our budget process is designed, every dollar spent this year will go into the base of next year’s budget and every subsequent budget in perpetuity. The sad reality is that Arizona is in the binge phase of the binge-and-purge cycle that destabilizes states.
The good news is that prospects for a tax cut look good. The legislature and the Governor have offered different tax cut proposals, but it’s nearly certain Arizona taxpayers will see at least a cut in personal income tax rates. Politicians are often loathe to cut taxes, but this November’s upcoming elections seem to have softened their resistance.
Tom Patterson is a retired emergency room physician and former state senator and Chairman of the Goldwater Institute. A longer version of this article appeared in the East Valley Tribune.
In Flagstaff, AZ we have extensive bike paths which are used by about 1% of the population. Lots of "civic art" which provides valuable income to various brothers-in-law who would otherwise have to search for honest work. A smoke belching diesel bus fleet which gives rides to the same five hippies every day. (It would be more cost effective to run a chauffeured Lincoln stretch along the same routes.)
And all of this is supported by a truly extorionate Bed, Board and Booze Sales Tax aimed at tourists but which actually victimizes the locals. As these revenues fall shorter the home owners will invariably pick up the slack.
Is it any surprise Flagstaff voters went for Kerry 3 for 1 over Bush?
Democrats! Be sure to come visit us, bring lots of money to spend and help us pay our taxes.
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