Arizona Senate Approves Budget Plan

Flagstaff, AZ – The Arizona Senate has approved a budget plan that includes the repeal of a state property tax. The Senate rejected Governor Jan Brewer's proposed sales tax hike and 400 million dollars in income tax cuts sought by Republican leaders. It isn't known yet if yesterday's rejection of the sales tax hike will prompt a veto from the governor. She vetoed an earlier budget because it didn't send the tax increase to the ballot for voters to decide. The property tax has been suspended for three years but is set to restart after that. If lawmakers don't repeal it by the end of the week, counties will be required to levy the tax. Allowing the property tax to return would net the state approximately 250 million dollars a year in additional revenue.