ALL EMPLOYEES - ARIZONA STATE WITHHOLDING HAS BEEN UPDATED TO THE DEFAULT RATE 2.0%. The package of budget bills passed with overwhelming support, highly unusual in the modern era. Along with the across-the-board pay raises, other agreements were reached to finance $20-an-hour minimum salaries for state firefighters and correctional officers. Ducey proposes $14B budget, with tax cuts, some raises for state workers, Lawmakers want to strip 19 cities' rights but Tucson is real target, Celebrity Las Vegas chefs opening Tucson restaurant, A bunch of photos of today's snow across Tucson , The highly anticipated Portillo's is now open in Tucson, 'Attainable' apartments coming to northwest Tucson, A big ol' guide to this weekend's Tucson Festival of Books, Watch: The most notable things Tommy Lloyd said after Arizona's heartbreaking loss to ASU, New game, entertainment center makes southwest Tucson a bigger draw, South Tucson motel sold to soup kitchen for housing, Tim Steller's column: Converting Tucson's big boxes, vast parking lots into housing tantalizes, 100 fun events happening in Tucson this March 2023 , Tucson lawmaker loses first bid to dump cities' rights, 'Extreme weather' closes parts of Interstates 17, 40 in Arizona, Feds might seek $163M refund over Arizona's anti-mask mandate rules, Arizona's online portal for campaign signatures facing shut down during critical period, Lawmaker's bill would eliminate sales tax on gun purchases in Arizona, Ducey: "Summer camp" plan to differ from traditional summer school, Arizona lawmaker seeks to override HOA rules against turf, Bill would again allow local governments to regulate short-term rentals, Gov. Also on Thursday evening, Senate made its way through its calendar, completing action on six additional bills and passing 11 others that will need to be finalized by the House. The Cigna DHMO Dental plan is changing to the UnitedHealthcare Solstice S800B DHMO (UHC Solstice). Any hours in excess of the maximum carryover limits are subject to forfeiture. That includes $544 million for border security, roughly half of it for a wall, and $1 billion for highway construction, including widening Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande. This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. FY 2022 Appropriations Report - General Fund Salary Adjustments for State Employees Since FY 2012 and Salary Adjustments for Elected Officials Created Date 8/4/2021 4:55:37 PM Caucus leaders claim Hobbs is illegally legislating to, advance her woke agenda, by issuing executive orders. Doug Ducey has had a serious negative effect on neighborhoods. A Valley teenager was arrested on Friday for bringing a firearm to Moon Valley High School, authorities said. You may add/drop dependents and change coverage or carriers. The U.S. Supreme Court today let stand a ruling that struck down Arizonas policy of denying benefits for domestic partners of state employees. 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. DeSantis currently uses a $15.5 million Cessna Citation Latitude jet, bought in 2019 after he took office, succeeding former Gov. at Revenue, ended up costing the state $83million in lost revenue, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. DeSantis had called for pouring about $355 million into construction, home-buying and rent relief efforts. That includes $544 million for border security, roughly half of it for a wall, and $1 billion for highway construction, including widening Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande. Pass it along to the KTAR News team here. Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal, Legislative session: Pay raises OK'd for state workers in Florida. GOP and Democratic leaders agreed to add $526 million in new ongoing funding for K-12 schools, a substantial increase from the GOPs initial proposal. $227 million in new K-12 funding above and behind whats required to keep pace with enrollment growth and inflation; $127 million for higher education, including $46 million for economy workforce initiatives at the three universities to prepare students for careers in future jobs; About $26 million to for would-be nursing students to attend the privately run Creighton University to help staff Arizona hospitals; About $26 million to increase the amount of money given to people who agree to take care of relatives instead of them going into foster care or congregate care settings. 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. A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. In another dramatic move, lawmakers dropped a House-backed $200 million redistribution of funds from 12 counties that defied Gov. Two-thirds of Arizona is no longer experiencing drought conditions, an abrupt change following a surprisingly wet winter. Any existing additional dollar amounts an employee had chosen to be withheld will not be changed. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. I had a bill I really cared about that I wanted included in the budget, a tax cut for low-income working families, Bowie said. Senate Bill 531 applies to teachers, school counselors, school service personnel and State Troopers. Arizonas individual income tax rates were substantially reduced starting with the 2022 tax year. click the box below and click the Login button under Y.E.S. The Associated Press learned of the moneys use when an updated report on the governors use of virus relief funds was posted by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, which provides non-partisan analysis of state finances to lawmakers. 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. With COVID still an issue and continued sentiment by many Republicans against mandatory masks or vaccinations look for early debate on ree, Governor says his final year will be to "cement our successes.''. 2023 FOX Television Stations. Nobody loves a budget once all the compromises are made, said Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray, R-Sun City. Arizona's legislature approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan early. Gov. A subscription helps you access more of the local stories that keep you connected to the community. Keep reading with a digital access subscription. Your Excess Annual Leave balances in YES will not be updated this upcoming pay period. That is far short of the $1 billion commitment he made in his State of the State speech. Here are five things to know about state-government pay raises: The state has not given across-the-board pay hikes to its employees since fiscal 2013, when then-Gov. GOP and Democratic leaders agreed to add $526 million in new ongoing funding for K-12 schools, a substantial increase from the GOPs initial proposal. 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. Learn about Deferred Compensation and how this important employee benefit can assist you in Saving for the Future. Doug Ducey wants to grant pay raises to nearly half of all state employees, with an emphasis on boosting salaries for law enforcement and corrections officers. 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. Here's how well Ducey rewarded his staff, agency heads. Not so much, according to public records obtained by The Arizona Republic. GOP leaders decided to just take the easy road out, the path of least resistance and give up and just spend, said Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, a Scottsdale Republican who voted against the budget. Other priorities in the governors program include: $248 million for targeted pay raises for state workers. For. As of April 8, 2021, both bills have passed where they were introduced and are awaiting full-floor discussions in the other. This widespread removal of protections made possiblemass firings during the Ducey administration in a quest to shrink government. Three Kansas City police officers who were shot while serving a search warrant have been released from the hospital, Officials say one passenger died when a business jet experienced severe turbulence, forcing a landing at Bradley International Airport in Connecticut, Oklahoma voters are deciding whether to legalize marijuana sales for those 21 and older. DeSantis on masks, Districts rebelled against DeSantis: Florida school districts rebel against governor's mask order, presenting political test, What DeSantis wanted: Helped by federal aid, Gov. 1/. The House is adjourned until tomorrow, March 4 at 9 a.m. "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. Only a handful of dissenters from each party voted against the package of bills, and Republican Gov. It was not a great situation," said Lisa Rowan, a consumer finance reporter with Forbes Advisor. But how long is needed to finish the budget work appears to be an unknown at the moment. Cities and counties in Arizona are also struggling to fill positions because of low pay, and Ducey said in his state of the state address last week that his 15% pay hike would make troopers the best paid officers in the state. Thn 5, x hong tn,th x qung yn, tnh qung ninh. But lawmakers have reduced that amount, targeting $209.5 million for housing initiatives, but limiting rental assistance efforts to about $100 million, with another $100 million establishing a hometown heroes program helping first responders, teachers and nurses with down payment assistance. Rick Scott, a multi-millionaire, who had sold the states former air fleet and paid for and used his own jet for state travel. Those fences also will feature no trespassing signs, a move that the Governors Office said is designed to allow police to prosecute those crossing the border illegally under state charges. Tags: Associated Press, legislation, business, property taxes, Arizona, education, state budgets. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. 2305. Reach the reporter at craig.harris@arizonarepublic.com or 602-444-8478 or on Twitter @charrisazrep. Tucson judge declares mistrial for man accused of murdering Isabel Celis, Jesse Wilson: Adoptive mother arrested in boy's death in Arizona, Family shot, killed in murder-suicide before eviction from foreclosed home: police, Phoenix condo fire leaves man and 2 kids dead; two other children in critical condition, Arrest made weeks after deadly Phoenix shooting, Police investigating shots fired incidents at Apache Junction RV resort, Suspect injured following shooting involving DPS trooper near Downtown Phoenix, Disneyland banned Rebel Wilson over selfie, actress says, Deadly I-17 crash in Phoenix caused by impaired driver, officials say, Family sues Phoenix mortuary following accidental cremation, Man shot in downtown Phoenix, no arrests made, Buckeye mom accused of killing adoptive son extradited to Arizona. Sen. Sean Bowie, a moderate Phoenix Democrat, joined with moderate Republican Sen. Paul Boyer to push for more school funding, noting that in all more than $1 billion in new school funding was in the plan, with more than half ongoing. Take away federal money and pandemic extensions, and Arizona is left with a bare-bones unemployment insurance system. Merit pay for selected workers raised the average pay for state employees by4.2 percent, under Ducey. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. 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. Employees and managers can monitor annual leave balances by logging in to YES and clicking on Leave Activity. 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. There also is a separate and as of yet undefined plan to cut business property taxes. 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. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin), 3 Kansas City Officers Who Were Shot Released From Hospital, 1 Killed When Business Jet Encounters Severe Turbulence, Pot Vote Has Oklahoma Hungry to Rake in Green From Texas. The increases are tied to job performance and employees could increase two steps, or 5%, on his or her employment anniversary date. Excess annual leave must be used on or before Friday, January 6, 2023 to avoid forfeiture of excess hours. Simpson, the Senate president, is running for the post of Agriculture Commissioner later this year and the spending provision sought by his chamber would not take effect until January 2023, when he could potentially be in charge of the department. Any hours in excess of the maximum carryover limits are subject to forfeiture. Despite failing to meet a late Tuesday deadline to finalize a 2022-23 state budget, House and Senate negotiators did manage to approve a 5.38% pay raise for all state employees, along with setting a new, $15-an-hour minimum wage for these workers. She says one day, federal money will run out, so states need to start thinking long-term. 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. 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. If you had logged in to Y.E.S. Republican leaders had struggled for months to craft a spending plan that could find unanimous support in the fractious GOP caucuses without relying on Democrats. The result is a booming economy with record revenues, Ducey said in a statement. About 9 p.m. Tuesday, Trumbull and Stargel sent a memo to fellow lawmakers acknowledging that they wouldn't make a midnight deadline in time for a constitutionally required 72-hour waiting period before lawmakers can vote on the budget by Friday's last scheduled day of the 2022 session. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. That includes $544 million for border security, roughly half of it for a wall, and $1 billion for highway construction, including widening Interstate 10 north of Casa Grande. "Arizona came in second to last. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. NOTE:Employees have the option to update their A-4 at any time during the tax year but are encouraged to consult with their tax advisor related to these new updates from AZDOR to determine how they may be affected. Visit the Benefits Website Links to some of the frequently visited benefits information: Employee Discounts (including tuition discounts) But the fate of dollars for the rural and family lands program remained in flux late Tuesday. $49.1 million for an across-the-board pay . 0. "The pandemic has really made it apparent that what you get in terms of unemployment benefits often isn't enough to support you if you're out of work, especially when you think about a national public health crisis," said Rowan. For those in the middle of the pay range scale, the hike . "But Id say that Arizona in general has not followed the market trend when it comes to police pay.". A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. Both measures will allow laid-off workers to take on more part-time work. GOP leaders decided to just take the easy road out, the path of least resistance and give up and just spend, said Sen. Michelle Ugenti-Rita, a Scottsdale Republican who voted against the budget. 23/06/2022 State employees will get a raise many for the first time in a decade. This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. The maximum benefit is about $325 a year, with an average of $128. Gov. Average annual pay before overtime for non-supervisors is just over $70,000. DeSantis supported what advocates call the putting parents first initiative, which would have taken millions of dollars from some of the states biggest counties and send the money to Floridas 55 other counties that fell in line with the governor on mask policy. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. The improbable bipartisanship was enabled by an unprecedented surplus topping $5 billion, allowing for a broad array of new spending and savings. But many of his comments leave quest, For Star subscribers:Senate President Karen Fann tells the Star in a Q&A the plan is to set up a program to achieve short- to long-term g, Schools chief Kathy Hoffman called out Republican legislative leaders Tuesday for failing so far to ensure that schools across the state won't. Doug Ducey or his political appointees have a much better shot of getting a big pay boost. Arizona has a legal right to challenge a federal provision that forbids using COVID relief money for tax cuts, appeals court rules. The Senates proposal excluded current Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat and candidate for governor, from having access to the funds. March 10, 2022. As of last summer, the state workforce is down by 4,862 employees since Ducey took office, to 33,222. Doug Ducey was expected to approve it. Check to see if your provider is on the plan and see the plan coverage by visiting. Republicans are widely expected to expand their majority in the 2022 election thanks to new district boundaries that appear to favor the GOP. 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. But that $150 is less than Ducey wants to give schools that already have an A rating, up to an extra $429 per student for schools with a high number of children in poverty and $241 for those with fewer students in need. She says Arizona normally offers 26 weeks of payments; about the same as other states. 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. After losing support on the right, House Speaker Rusty Bowers and Senate President Karen Fann had to look elsewhere for votes, and they found them across the aisle. 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. The plan includes a handful of small, targeted tax cuts for farm machines and private planes but no large scale reductions. Phoenix lawmaker said that gun safety equipment would also be sold free of sales tax. It raises pay in January 2022 to $300 and raises employer premiums. It raises pay in January 2022 to $300 and raises employer premiums. Republicans are widely expected to expand their majority in the 2022 election thanks to new district boundaries that appear to favor the GOP. Likely there will be some sort of compromise concerning the two state bills. The 12 districts are Alachua, Brevard, Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Indian River, Leon, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Sarasota and Volusia counties. Be sure to review the dental information above to see if it applies to you. And even if that fails, GOP legislative leaders are planning a maneuver that effectively would quash a public vote by repealing last years version and reenacting something new and possibly different this year. Duceys budget sets aside $58 million for that, leaving it up to lawmakers how to enact business tax cuts. Lawmakers also agreed to technical changes in a formula for distributing money to schools and $4 million each for school testing and 2022 election costs. After firing auditors, state's Revenue agency gave raises to select employees. U of A's $2.3 billion budget earmarks $51.5 million for employee raises. 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. What they envision, however, is not the style of fence the feds already built before construction was stopped by the Biden administration. 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. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, last year successfully pushed to bring state workers up to a minimum $13 hourly wage. Doug Ducey was expected to approve it. Doug Ducey is proposing a $14.25 billion spending plan for the new fiscal year, about 8.6% more than this year, including tax cuts aimed at the poor to reward them for working. Arizona state officials gave pay raises to 169 government workers without getting the required approval from the Department of Administration. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. With the holidays approaching, it's important to know when your home is in need of heating and plumbing updates before more guests start to come around. The State Personnel Board last week voted to add four steps of 2.5% to employees' pay structure. between 12/31/22 and 01/03/23 at 1 pm, the rate you may have seen may have been incorrect. 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. A separate bill giving locality pay was scrapped in favor of this bill. The agency has 448 vacancies out of nearly 2,300 approved positions and Ducey wants to spend $31 million a year on DPS raises alone, according to the governors office. As new information becomes available related to submitting a new 2023 A4, it will be published here. May 4, 2022 PHOENIX Governor Doug Ducey today expressed appreciation and gratitude for state workers on Arizona State Employee Recognition Day, thanking them for their dedication to serving the residents of one of the fastest-growing states. The Republican governors office did not announce that he was using cash from President Joe Bidens American Rescue Plan Act to provide 20% pay boosts to the states corrections officers, 15% increases to state troopers and 10% increases to workers at the departments of child safety, economic security, juvenile corrections, transportation and health services.