As our Legislature debates proposals to raise taxes and to cut
taxes, how many Arizonans know that state taxes have been cut over
and over again during the past two decades to the point that now
our the state budget loses $1.5 billion a year?
Too many tax cuts have not only led to shrinking services that
Arizona families and business value – like education, health,
public safety and infrastructure – they have also added to the
boom-and-bust roller coaster of our state budget. The result is tax
policy and state services that are unstable and unpredictable.
Children’s Action Alliance recently looked into the tax cuts
passed over the last two decades. What we found was disturbing.
Since 1989, tax cuts have been passed every year except one
(2003). Even as lawmakers have struggled unsuccessfully to close
the ever-increasing deficits, more tax cuts have been proposed,
passed and phased in. Tax cuts that won’t go into effect until
January 2010 and beyond total $1.0 billion over a five-year
period.
Based on the years of tax cuts, Arizona is coming up short when
it comes to the public assets families and businesses need to
prosper. Arizona suffers from high class sizes in public schools,
low proficiency in basic reading and math skills, and a lack of
options for quality, affordable child care and preschool. We rank
near the bottom of the nation in the performance of our child
health system and the rate of children with health care coverage.
In rankings of business climate, Arizona fares the worst in the
categories of education and quality of life.
We’re already living through the additional threats to
children’s health, education and security caused by budget cuts
passed this year. Now, we’re seeing how much worse the future can
be as state agencies are identifying how they would cut an
additional 15 percent out of their already decimated budgets.
We are looking at eliminating KidsCare health coverage for
45,000 children and turning thousands of parents and children away
from food, shelter, health services, counseling and support that
strengthen families and build our future.
Children’s Action Alliance has identified the top 10 reasons to
freeze and reverse Arizona’s tax cuts. We’ve also made eight
recommendations for policymakers, which include placing a
moratorium on tax law changes, putting a sunset date on all tax
credits and deductions, and making permanent changes to our revenue
system that update the tax code. For details, see Digging the Hole
Deeper, available at www.azchildren.org.
Arizona can rebuild our common assets and plan for our future.
We need lawmakers who will step up to responsible fiscal policies
and stop digging the hole deeper. We can match Arizona’s tax
policies to our expectations for outstanding education, health and
safety for children, and the excellent infrastructure needed for a
21st century economy.
Now is the time.
Dana Wolfe Naimark is president and CEO of the Children’s
ActionAlliance. She lives in Ahwatukee Foothills.
Home
Digging the hole deeper: Too many tax cuts are hurting Ariz.
Posted: Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:00 am
Digging the hole deeper: Too many tax cuts are hurting Ariz. Commentary by Dana Wolfe Naimark Ahwatukee Foothills News | 0 comments
As our Legislature debates proposals to raise taxes and to cut taxes, how many Arizonans know that state taxes have been cut over and over again during the past two decades to the point that now our the state budget loses $1.5 billion a year?
Too many tax cuts have not only led to shrinking services that Arizona families and business value – like education, health, public safety and infrastructure – they have also added to the boom-and-bust roller coaster of our state budget. The result is tax policy and state services that are unstable and unpredictable.
Children’s Action Alliance recently looked into the tax cuts passed over the last two decades. What we found was disturbing.
Since 1989, tax cuts have been passed every year except one (2003). Even as lawmakers have struggled unsuccessfully to close the ever-increasing deficits, more tax cuts have been proposed, passed and phased in. Tax cuts that won’t go into effect until January 2010 and beyond total $1.0 billion over a five-year period.
Based on the years of tax cuts, Arizona is coming up short when it comes to the public assets families and businesses need to prosper. Arizona suffers from high class sizes in public schools, low proficiency in basic reading and math skills, and a lack of options for quality, affordable child care and preschool. We rank near the bottom of the nation in the performance of our child health system and the rate of children with health care coverage. In rankings of business climate, Arizona fares the worst in the categories of education and quality of life.
We’re already living through the additional threats to children’s health, education and security caused by budget cuts passed this year. Now, we’re seeing how much worse the future can be as state agencies are identifying how they would cut an additional 15 percent out of their already decimated budgets.
We are looking at eliminating KidsCare health coverage for 45,000 children and turning thousands of parents and children away from food, shelter, health services, counseling and support that strengthen families and build our future.
Children’s Action Alliance has identified the top 10 reasons to freeze and reverse Arizona’s tax cuts. We’ve also made eight recommendations for policymakers, which include placing a moratorium on tax law changes, putting a sunset date on all tax credits and deductions, and making permanent changes to our revenue system that update the tax code. For details, see Digging the Hole Deeper, available at www.azchildren.org.
Arizona can rebuild our common assets and plan for our future. We need lawmakers who will step up to responsible fiscal policies and stop digging the hole deeper. We can match Arizona’s tax policies to our expectations for outstanding education, health and safety for children, and the excellent infrastructure needed for a 21st century economy.
Now is the time.
Dana Wolfe Naimark is president and CEO of the Children’s ActionAlliance. She lives in Ahwatukee Foothills.
More about Taxes
More about Many
More about State
Posted in Commentary on Tuesday, November 24, 2009 12:00 am. | Tags: Taxes, Many, State, Tax, Cut, Cuts, Deeper, Business, Point, Ariz
Similar Stories
Most Read
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Current users sign in here.
Register
If you do not have an account, set one up!
It's easy to do and it's free!
'Tukee Talk
Past present and future…
More 'Tukee Talk
Latest Slideshows
12 photos
Baseball: MP vs Chaparral
21 photos
Volleyball: DV vs Gilbert
15 photos
Volleyball: DV vs Salpointe
14 photos
Baseball: MP vs Corona
More Latest Slideshows
Print Edition Online
More E-Editions
Calendar
Calendar
Upcoming events
Near: Childsplay’s ‘A Wrinkle in Time’ opens April 21
Here: Social Thinking, Social Skills camp at Piller Child Development May 2
Recent videos
Loop 202 - Jim Jochim Interview
PARC Treasurer Jim Jochim sits down with Allison Hurtado to discuss the Phoenix Loop 202 project ...
It's a boy!! Our Andean bear cub recently had its first check-up with Phoenix Zoo vets. After pat...
Country Thunder Day 1 off to a great start!
Sections
Services
Affiliates
Contact us
ahwatukee.com
Ahwatukee Foothills News
Phone number: 480-898-7900
E-mail: bstidham@ahwatukee.com
Address: 10631 S. 51 St., Suite 1
Phoenix, AZ 85044
Search
© Copyright 2011, Ahwatukee Foothills News, Phoenix, AZ