Nobody loves a budget once all the compromises are made, said Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray, R-Sun City. Doug Ducey's administration is stepping up the firing of state workers, many of whom can be let go without explanation under a law enacted during his predecessor's administration that revamped the state's personnel system. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, HIRING: Find companies that need workers in AZ, FAQ: Business resources for Arizona residents. Doug Ducey highlighted border security as one of his main priorities for 2022. Please review your AZ state withholding election again and make any change if you choose to. Arizonas individual income tax rates were substantially reduced starting with the 2022 tax year. Ducey gave to staff. Please contact a Benefit Options representative by phone at 602-542-5008, toll-free at 1-800-304-3687, by email at [emailprotected] or visit benefitoptions.az.gov. Long-serving state employees may be eligible for pay increases of up to 10% over the next few years. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. 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. 2.5-3% is an average salary increase in many sectors, including the government sector where federal employees will receive a base pay. For agencies, boards and commissions under the State Personnel System, the maximum number of annual leave hours an employee may carry over into a new calendar year is 320 hours for uncovered employees and 240 hours for covered employees. Doug Ducey quietly tapped $95 million in federal coronavirus relief money in November to boost pay for state troopers, prison guards and workers in several other state departments deemed essential. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. 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. $5 million in 20 percent pay raises for Arizona Department of Juvenile Corrections officers. Ironically, it was the Legislatures most conservative lawmakers who forced the hands of GOP leaders when they balked at initial, smaller spending proposals. 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 University of Arizona. But aides said that promise was for over three years, meaning after he has left office. at Revenue, ended up costing the state $83million in lost revenue, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. A separate bill giving locality pay was scrapped in favor of this bill. PHOENIX (AP) - Arizona Gov. Merit pay for selected workers raised the average pay for state employees by4.2 percent, under Ducey. It raises pay in January 2022 to $300 and raises employer premiums. But for Democrats, this may have been the last chance for the foreseeable future to make an imprint on the state budget. 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. Copyright 2022 TheAssociated Press. Annual renewal required. 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. Lawmakers in the House and Senate ended a months-long impasse, working through the night to approve the budget shortly before sunrise. After firing auditors, state's Revenue agency gave raises to select employees. Arizona lawmakers approve bipartisan $18 billion budget, Arizona DPS trooper praised for saving driver, Pima County man sentenced second time to life in prison for deadly shooting, Man charged with murder after girlfriends 1-year-old son dies, Suspect killed in Tucson officer-involved shooting, Tom Sizemore, Saving Private Ryan actor, dies at 61. 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. In K-12 education, negotiators reached general agreement on an almost $385-per-student increase in school funding an almost 5% boost that would bring funding to an average $8,143 for each of Florida's 2.9 million school kids. "We werent competitive at that rate," Hawkins said. The U.S. Supreme Court today let stand a ruling that struck down Arizonas policy of denying benefits for domestic partners of state employees. Arizona governor pledges $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to help students catch up. Doug Ducey or his political appointees have a much better shot of getting a big pay boost. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. 2305. Department of Administration Human Resources. Jun 10, 2022 Updated Jan 20, 2023. For. The governors aides say business tax relief is justified based on data they say show that Arizona has the 10th highest industrial property tax rates in the nation. The Pima County Board of Supervisors had eight pay raise proposals to choose from, ranging from a low of 5% to a high of 10%. "If you make a whole ton of money and you're on unemployment, the most you're going to get is $240 a week to be able to pay your bills," said Rowan. The Arizona Legislature is rushing to pass a budget before the 2022 session ends in a few days on June 30, but some Republican legislators are balking at agreeing to vote for the 12 budget bills due to the amount of spending: $17.9 billion. Doug Ducey was expected to approve it. The House amended the raise on March 7 and the Senate concurred this evening. The firings of more than 100 auditors and collectors, who were among the lowest-paid employees at Revenue, ended up costing the state $83 million in lost revenue. This is your TASC card account. Gov. All rights reserved. . They also agreed to technical changes in a formula for distributing money to schools and $4 million each for school testing and 2022 election costs. Reach the reporter at craig.harris@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8478 or on Twitter @charrisazrep. 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. PHOENIX (AP) Arizona's 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. 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. The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Phoenix lawmaker said that gun safety equipment would also be sold free of sales tax. The cash of $150 a student for up to three years is designed to help schools improve; if they do not, then the governor will ask the state Department of Education to step in. With a constitutional amendment approved by voters in 2020 pushing the states minimum wage for all workers to $15-an-hour in 2026, Florida lawmakers now appear to be getting out slightly ahead of this shift. 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. 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. Only a handful of dissenters from each party voted against the package of bills, and Republican Gov. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. A salary increase with a chosen percent pay increase. State Senator Michelle Ugenti-Rita (R-Scottsdale) tweeted on Monday, "Arizona's version of @JoeBiden's Build Back Broke (aka the legislature's . 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. pay raises that average 18 percent, or an $11,496 increase. Ducey is seeking a permanent 15% raise for state troopers, 20% for juvenile and adult corrections employees and pay boosts for several other agencies that total nearly $250 million a year. Right now, you can only earn $30 before benefits are reduced. 2023 www.azcentral.com. Lawmaker said 2016 legislation pushed by Airbnb and signed into law by Gov. 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. Any existing additional dollar amounts an employee had chosen to be withheld will not be changed. Duceys budget sets aside $58 million for that, leaving it up to lawmakers how to enact business tax cuts. Average annual pay before overtime for non-supervisors is just over $70,000. The platform is designed to engage citizens and government leaders in a discussion about what needs improvement across the country. 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. There's no need for the biennial signature chase for lawmakers says Rep. David Cook, a Republican lawmaker from Globe, State Sen. Kelly Townsend led the effort to get the attorney general to overturn a Pima County employee vaccine mandate and continues to quest, The attorney general's office is threatening to prosecute and seek to jail Secretary of State Katie Hobbs if she follows through with plan, A Senate panel voted to allow dental patients to get their lips puffed, cheeks filled out and brow wrinkles smoothed where they now get their , For Star subscribers:Gov. Tiny majorities in both chambers meant opposition from a single Republican lawmaker was enough to sink the budget if Democrats were united in opposition. But the fate of dollars for the rural and family lands program remained in flux late Tuesday. 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. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. click the box below and click the Login button under Y.E.S. It was not a great situation," said Lisa Rowan, a consumer finance reporter with Forbes Advisor. This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. Much of the new money for K-12 education, above inflation and enrollment growth, is earmarked for school capital needs. 23/06/2022 State employees will get a raise many for the first time in a decade. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. And it puts another $425 million in the rainy day fund to help the state weather a potential recession. Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal. The Blog of the West Virginia Legislature, The Official Blog of the West Virginia Legislature, House Passes Classroom Camera Review Process Bill, House Floor Session, Rejection of Senate Bill 230, Bill Requiring a Personal Finance Class in High School Completes, Senate Completes Action on Eight Bills Thursday, Senate Education Advances Special Education Monitoring Bill, House Completes Action on WV-Ireland Trade Commission. Over the last eight years, Arizona has made responsible decisions to live within our means, reduce burdensome government regulations and increase trust in our citizens and the result is a booming economy with record revenues. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. But still to be settled is more than $300 million in environmental spending earmarked by the Senate for the states rural and family lands program under the Agriculture Department. 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. 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. Arizonas legislature has approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan making substantial investments in public schools and new highways. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - On Friday, Jan. 15, Arizona Gov. Districts lose dollars because of masks: GOP lawmaker aims to strip state funding from school districts that defied Gov. The new budget also is built on the premise that the 2.5% flat tax proposal approved last year will, in fact, take effect this year at an annual cost of $1.9 billion despite the fact that foes have gathered enough signatures to delay it until the public can vote on it in November. Best States is an interactive platform developed by U.S. News for ranking the 50 U.S. states, alongside news analysis and daily reporting. It allows state and local governments to. It appears those who are close to Gov. $400 million to complete another 20 miles of upgrading I-10 to three lanes in each direction between Casa Grande and Sun Lakes; $50 million for communities outside Pima and Maricopa counties to leverage federal dollars for shovel-ready transportation projects; $92 million for building repairs and upgrades in the state prison system; $8.2 million to increase the number of Adult Protective Services caseworkers; $177 million for projects at state parks, about half for sewage treatment systems, though $118 million of that is coming from federal cash. But for Democrats, this may have been the last chance for the foreseeable future to make an imprint on the state budget. The Legislature plans to return Thursday afternoon to take up legislation directing how the new water cash will be spent and other remaining bills, with an eye to adjourning for the year once those are completed. There is a growing sense that fallowing will have to be part of the solution to the increasingly desperate drought in the West. To access Y.E.S. 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. The governor this year has proposed to increase education funding in his budget, but teachers say it still makes them among the worst paid in the country. The budget has nearly $600 million in new, permanent funding for public schools, up from about $330 million in the original proposal. Other state employee raises are reflected in the budget bill that is expected to be finalized before the end of the Regular Session. Note: Elective benefits for new employees may be subject to a 90-day waiting period. 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. The average raise for a Ducey staffer was 11 percentsince he took office. Will ct state employees get a raise in 2022 22 feb 2022 northeast region abbreviations northeast region abbreviations Will ct state employees get a raise in 2022. The result is a booming economy with record revenues, Ducey said in a statement. 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. Jan Brewer offered 5 percent pay raises to employees who became "uncovered," giving up certain job protections. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, is the General Election and all state government employees are encouraged to vote. More information regarding civic duty leave for the purpose of voting. He pointed to officer pay in Texas and California, where rookie California Highway Patrol officers start at $93,000 a year. Log in via YES. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. The average raise for a Ducey staffer was 11 percentsince he took office. You may add/drop dependents and change coverage or carriers. Please follow the steps below to log in: If you are not able to log in, please contact[emailprotected]or call (602) 542-4700, Option 4 for assistance. Under the plan, DeSantis would exclusively use the Citation. 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. Senate Bill 1828(Laws 2021, Fifty-fifth Legislature, 1st Regular Session)amended the individual income tax withholding brackets. Doug Ducey was expected to approve it. Your Excess Annual Leave balances in YES will not be updated this upcoming pay period. For those in the middle of the pay range scale, the hike . Excess annual leave must be used on or before Friday, January 6, 2023 to avoid forfeiture of excess hours. Both measures will allow laid-off workers to take on more part-time work. DeSantis, Cabinet members and other state leaders also were helped by budget-writers Tuesday, who agreed to spend $31.3 million to buy two Embraer Phenom 300E executive jets, each with an 11-seat capacity, under legislation awaiting final approval. Republicans are widely expected to expand their majority in the 2022 election thanks to new district boundaries that appear to favor the GOP. % of gross taxable wages starting January 2023. But some of that money is going to erect what the Governors Office is calling physical barriers along stretches of the border where they have access. Senate Bill 531 applies to teachers, school counselors, school service personnel and State Troopers.