Tax Initiative Progresses

Arizona proponents of a plan to make permanent a temporary 1% state sales tax said they already have more than enough signatures to put the measure on the Nov. 6 ballot.

Ann-Eve Pedersen, who heads the Quality Education and Jobs campaign, said the group has obtained signatures from 175,000 registered voters. Getting the constitutional amendment on the ballot requires 172,809 signatures by July 5.

The tax was approved by voters in 2010 as a temporary solution to a decline in tax collections. The short-term sales tax will in mid-2013. The initiative would make the levy permanent, with 80% of the revenues dedicated to public education, including higher education.

The proposal would also create an infrastructure fund to finance roads, rail and transit projects. The efforts would be funded with bonds supported by the sales tax.

Pedersen said the group intends to file the petitions with the state well before the deadline.

“Our intent is to continue to gather additional signatures to provide for a sufficient margin of error while continuing to build support among voters at the grassroots level,” she said.

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Arizona
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