The Arizona Supreme Court said last week that the Legislature should examine the state’s system of ballot initiatives in a ruling related to the failed attempt to get a state sales tax for transportation on November’s ballot.
Supporters organized the Transportation & Infrastructure Moving AZ’s Economy coalition to get the measure onto the ballot authorizing an additional 1% sales tax. The proposal would have allowed the Arizona Transportation Board to issue 30-year bonds supported by the additional sales tax.
The tax would have generated $42.6 billion over 30 years.
Secretary of State Jan Brewer refused to allow the sales tax increase initiative onto the ballot because supporters did not provide enough valid voter signatures on the petitions submitted for the measure.
Brewer’s decision was upheld by the Maricopa County recorder. The Supreme Court refused to rule on the case in a decision released Aug. 26.
In an opinion issued last week in a related case, Justice Andrew Hurwitz said a thorough legislative re-examination of the initiative process is needed. He said growth in the number of initiatives and in the number of signatures required have overwhelmed local officials.
