Tune in to FOX 10 Phoenixfor the latestnews: By clicking Sign Up, I confirmthat I have read and agreeto the Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. With the increase, Fann's bill cuts benefits from 26 to 22 weeks once unemployment is back under 4.5%. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. All Other Plans - carriers, premiums and coverage remain the same. Arizonas individual income tax rates were substantially reduced starting with the 2022 tax year. Pass it along to the KTAR News team here. 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. So, what's the best way to get a raise if you work for the state of Arizona? $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. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. The 33rd annual Glendale Folk and Heritage Festival will bring hundreds of performers to Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park Saturday and Sunday. The budget does have a specific sensitivity to how the COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the shortage of nurses in the state. Much of the new money for K-12 education, above inflation and enrollment growth, is earmarked for school capital needs. After firing auditors, state's Revenue agency gave raises to select employees. 1/. With this budget, were putting those dollars to good use and investing in priorities that Republicans and Democrats alike can agree on.. 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. Posted: 4:27 PM, Jun 28, 2022 . PHOENIX Arizona Gov. Those employees who will be receiving a targeted salary increase at or above 7.5 percent in fiscal year 2023 will be eligible to receive a 2.5 percent statewide increase. 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. 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. If you had logged in to Y.E.S. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. "State employees have stepped up and answered the call of public service. "But Id say that Arizona in general has not followed the market trend when it comes to police pay.". So prior cuts to business taxes have included some compensating tax relief for homeowners. The 12 school districts targeted in the House's original proposal were looking to get the $200 million penalty removed from the state's school funding system. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. Doug Ducey or his political appointees have a much better shot of getting a big pay boost. It raises pay in January 2022 to $300 and raises employer premiums. Arizona state officials gave pay raises to 169 government workers without getting the required approval from the Department of Administration. U of A's $2.3 billion budget earmarks $51.5 million for employee raises. To see your current elections and enroll, click the Employee or Retiree button in the upper lefthand corner of the page. 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. 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. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. 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. Employees and managers can monitor annual leave balances by logging in to YES and clicking on Leave Activity. "Arizona is resilient, and we . 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. between 12/31/22 and 01/03/23 at 1 pm, the rate you may have seen may have been incorrect. 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. Note 1: Only available if the employee had no tax liability last year and does not expect to have any tax liability in the current year. 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. 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The Parks and Revenue departments both gave select staff members significant pay raises after mass firings at both agencies. The rest of Arizona'spublic servants? Duceys plan also includes $58 million to help low-performing schools those rated D or F by the state Department of Education as well as some C-rated schools where 60% or more of the students come from low-income households. The State Personnel Board last week voted to add four steps of 2.5% to employees' pay structure. Other state employee raises are reflected in the budget bill that is . 100 N 15th Ave, #301. 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. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. Arizona's legislature approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan early. Ron DeSantis ban on school mask mandates last year. Arizona governor pledges $100 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to help students catch up. Arizona state employees get raises without needed OKs, Domestic partners employed by state gain win at Supreme Court, U.S. Supreme Court rejects Arizona gay rights case, YOUR CALIFORNIA PRIVACY RIGHTS/PRIVACY POLICY. Merit pay for selected workers raised the average pay for state employees by4.2 percent, under Ducey. 2023-01-02. . 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. But how long is needed to finish the budget work appears to be an unknown at the moment. Now, this budget isnt perfect. Only a handful of dissenters from each party voted against the package of bills, and Republican Gov. The Senate is adjourned until Monday, March 6, at 11 a.m. Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, last year successfully pushed to bring state workers up to a minimum $13 hourly wage. He can be reached at jkennedy2@gannett.com, or on Twitter at @JKennedyReport, This article originally appeared on Tallahassee Democrat: Legislative session: Pay raises OK'd for state workers in Florida, Life Cover+ Multiple Benefits in one plan, GOP lawmaker aims to strip state funding from school districts that defied Gov. Here's how well Ducey rewarded his staff, agency heads. The same is true at other agencies, according to a spreadsheet of classifications earning premium pay provided by the state Department of Administration. Average annual pay before overtime for non-supervisors is just over $70,000. 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. 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. Jan 14, 2022 Updated Feb 19, 2023 PHOENIX Buoyed by strong state revenues, Gov. 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. In his last budget plan, Gov. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. Doug Ducey has had a serious negative effect on neighborhoods. That includes the nearly $26 million for would-be nurses to go to the accelerated nursing program at Creighton University, with students having to promise to work at a hospital in Arizona for four years. Doug Ducey's proposal to spend $1.1 billion on desalination and other water infrastructure ignores other potential , For Star subscribers:Gov. The package of budget bills passed with overwhelming support, highly unusual in the modern era. 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. Ducey hailed the deal, saying his policies of limited spending and regulation cuts can be credited for the surplus, although massive federal COVID-19 relief money also was a major contributor. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, is the General Election and all state government employees are encouraged to vote. In another dramatic move, lawmakers dropped a House-backed $200 million redistribution of funds from 12 counties that defied Gov. The Senate completed action on a bill Thursday evening that will provide pay raises for state employees whose wages are outlined in state code. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, HIRING: Find companies that need workers in AZ, FAQ: Business resources for Arizona residents. This is what our state, where voters are nearly evenly divided by party affiliation, has long asked of us to work together, said Rep. Reginald Bolding of Laveen, the top Democrat in the House. 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. Other state employee raises are reflected in the budget bill that is expected to be finalized before the end of the Regular Session. Rep. John Kavanagh's bill, HB 2131, would override any homeowner association rules requiring lawns to be seeded with real grass. Your Excess Annual Leave balances in YES will not be updated this upcoming pay period. And even then, much of the money is not for grand projects like desalination but instead for shorter-term solutions like water banking and paying tribes and others to use less Colorado River water. 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Lawmakers in the House and Senate ended a months-long impasse, working through the night to approve the budget shortly before sunrise. Senate Bill 531 applies to teachers, school counselors, school service personnel and State Troopers. This widespread removal of protections made possiblemass firings during the Ducey administration in a quest to shrink government. FOX 10's Matt Galka reports. This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. The added funding includes phasing in funding for low-income students starting at $50 million in the upcoming fiscal year and growing to $100 million in three years and special education. While a judge has said the tax cut is subject to referendum, there is still a challenge to whether there are sufficient signatures on the petitions. 40 workers fired by ex-DES chief may get jobs back All employees in salaried positions as of April 10, 2022 and remaining employed on July 10, 2022 are eligible for the statewide salary increase. A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. C.J. A Valley teenager was arrested on Friday for bringing a firearm to Moon Valley High School, authorities said. He citied Boyers leadership, your stubbornness, your perseverance, for reaching the deal. But those salary adjustments aren't equal for all. 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. 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. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. But for Democrats, this may have been the last chance for the foreseeable future to make an imprint on the state budget. Lawmakers now are certain to extend the session. Every single budget's bad, Gray said. 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. Stay informed daily on the latest news and advice on COVID-19 from the editors at U.S. News & World Report. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - On Friday, Jan. 15, Arizona Gov. Gov. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. It appears those who are close to Gov. 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. 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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 It was not a great situation," said Lisa Rowan, a consumer finance reporter with Forbes Advisor. 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. Senate Bill 531 applies to teachers, school counselors, school service personnel and State Troopers. While adults may find that sports gambling is a way to enhance the experience with more than just fandom on the line, it can be a dangerous proposition if children get involved in the activity. Rep. Jake Hoffman, R-Queen Creek, is proposing a further reduction in that flat tax, to $1.5 billion. The bill now heads to the Governors desk to await his signature to become law. 5 min read 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. Boyer, who started as a Senate staffer and has been a lawmaker for a decade, said this is the first bipartisan budget in at least 15 years. Tags: Associated Press, legislation, business, property taxes, Arizona, education, state budgets. The Ducey administration has done away with across-the-board pay increases, but has allowed agency directors to award raises and bonuses based on merit. Most of the spending increases that were included in the FY 2022 budget are one- time (versus ongoing), which ho nors a core tenet of the Governor's focus on fiscal sustainability and avoiding over-burdening the State's budget, as was done in the mid -2000s with disastrous fiscal consequences. The agency pays its starting troopers about $57,000 a year, and the new 15% stipend gets them to $65,000, Hawkins said. For more information, refer to the news story from AZDOR:Arizonas Employees Have New Tax Withholding Options. Arizona has a legal right to challenge a federal provision that forbids using COVID relief money for tax cuts, appeals court rules. Eligibility is based on income, maxing out at $57,414 a year for married couples filing jointly who have three or more qualifying children, with lower limits for smaller families. "Weve got some quite a few critical positions that are vital to public safety," Karamargin said. The Senate completed action on a bill Thursday evening that will provide pay raises for state employees whose wages are outlined in state code. Both are leaving the Legislature after this year. 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. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. You may add/drop dependents and change coverage or carriers. Virtual meetings will be held at various times throughout February, March and April 2023. "It really was just a stopgap to start trying to stop people from leaving because all the agencies around us have received considerable pay raises and we were still so far behind," Hawkins said. For example, Arizona State University is getting $21 million for new programs in engineering, Theres $415 million for the University of Arizona for its programs in health, mining, space and defense, with about $10 million for Northern Arizona University for health care professions. Arizonas legislature has approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan making substantial investments in public schools and new highways. Karamargin, Duceys spokesman, said there is increasing competitiveness in all sorts of jobs. 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. Doug Ducey was expected to approve it. SB 1411 was introduced by Republican State Senator Karen Fann. rookie California Highway Patrol officers start at $93,000 a year. $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.