Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. Ducey gave to staff. Any existing additional dollar amounts an employee had chosen to be withheld will not be changed. He citied Boyers leadership, your stubbornness, your perseverance, for reaching the deal. All rights reserved. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, is the General Election and all state government employees are encouraged to vote. Instead, a proposal that looked close to being accepted by the two sides would put the $200 million into a school recognition program that would reward faculty and staff in "highly productive" schools that excelled even amid the challenges of the pandemic. 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. 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. The Evergreen State takes the top spot again in the U.S. News Best States ranking on the strength of its tech sector and other industries. 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. KTARs Community Spotlight focuses on the Boys & Girls Club of the Valley and the work to incorporate esports into children's lives. 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. Arizona's legislature approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan early. PHOENIX Arizona Gov. 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%. 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. 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. In another dramatic move, lawmakers dropped a House-backed $200 million redistribution of funds from 12 counties that defied Gov. 2305. 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. As a result, the Arizona Department of Revenue (AZDOR) revised the withholding percentages. Check to see if your provider is on the plan and see the plan coverage by visiting. 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. $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. 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. 23/06/2022 State employees will get a raise many for the first time in a decade. The maximum benefit is about $325 a year, with an average of $128. Rowan has spent the last few months going through unemployment data from states, giving context to the problems we are seeing now. That would be increased to $160. For more information, refer to the news story from AZDOR:Arizonas Employees Have New Tax Withholding Options. Arizona State Government is an EOA/ADA reasonable Accommodation Employer. Republicans are widely expected to expand their majority in the 2022 election thanks to new district boundaries that appear to favor the GOP. 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. Ron DeSantis ban on school mask mandates last year. PHOENIX Buoyed by strong state revenues, Gov. 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. Doug Ducey, despite lean budget, awards hefty pay raises to his staff, Teachers union to fight for 20 percent raises, just like Gov. 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. The firings of more than 100 auditors and collectors, who were among the lowest-paid employees at Revenue, ended up costing the state $83million in lost revenue. Any hours in excess of the maximum carryover limits are subject to forfeiture. 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. Ron DeSantis spends big in $99.7 billion budget proposal, Legislative session: Pay raises OK'd for state workers in Florida. "So yeah, well deserved and hopefully it does what the intent was, to try to stop the high number of regrettable attrition that we have, increased retirement, guys going out earlier than they probably would have.". Gov. The result is a booming economy with record revenues, Ducey said in a statement. 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. While pay raises look settled, Trumbull and Stargel held a later Tuesday meeting to address dozens of other spending issues. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. As of April 8, 2021, both bills have passed where they were introduced and are awaiting full-floor discussions in the other. 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. Nursing home employees also would reach $15-an-hour minimum pay as part of a 7% increase in Medicaid rates paid nursing homes that was also agreed to Tuesday. 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. Arizona state employee raises 2022. 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. 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. 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A starting correctional officer earns just over $35,000 a year before the 20% premium pay. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the . ADOA Human Resources . The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. The bill now heads to the Governors desk to await his signature to become law. The Senate completed action on a bill Thursday evening that will provide pay raises for state employees whose wages are outlined in state code. 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. It allows state and local governments to. 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. All Other Plans - carriers, premiums and coverage remain the same. Both measures will allow laid-off . 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. But with inflation rising and many state agencies struggling to hire and keep employees, lawmakers have adapted to a new political reality. But for Democrats, this may have been the last chance for the foreseeable future to make an imprint on the state budget. PLEASE BE AWARE:To ensure compliance with AZDOR requirements, on 12/30/22, the State will change ALL employee records to the default rate of 2.0%. This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. 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. 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. Marisol Garcia, Vice President of the Arizona Education Association, speaks during a news conference at the Arizona capitol Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Phoenix. 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. at Revenue, ended up costing the state $83million in lost revenue, Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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 Cigna DHMO Dental plan is changing to the UnitedHealthcare Solstice S800B DHMO (UHC Solstice). The employee pay raise bill got to the finish line with a $10,000 raise for State Troopers, up from the original $2,550 figure. The Supreme Court has rejected appeals from Arizona and Nevada involving the rights of same-sex couples. "State employees have stepped up and answered the call of public service. If you had logged in to Y.E.S. It raises pay in January 2022 to $300 and raises employer premiums. The average raise for a Ducey staffer was 11 percentsince he took office. The premium pay started flowing to 17,291 of the states approximately 35,000 workers on Nov. 27. "Arizona is resilient, and we . Doug Ducey was expected to approve it. 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. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, HIRING: Find companies that need workers in AZ, FAQ: Business resources for Arizona residents. 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. The Arizona Board of Regents approved the University of Arizona's . Both are leaving the Legislature after this year. 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. In his last budget plan, Gov. That is far short of the $1 billion commitment he made in his State of the State speech. 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.''. Those who have voted against it say they want to see a restructuring of DES before handing them more money. Both measures will allow laid-off workers to take on more part-time work. 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. Jan 14, 2022 Updated Feb 19, 2023 PHOENIX Buoyed by strong state revenues, Gov. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. To keep your FSA for healthcare, limited purpose, or daycare/elder care, you must re-enroll each year. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. There also is a $450 million deposit into the states rainy day fund, bringing it up to 10% of the total state budget, the maximum permitted by law. TUCSON, Ariz. (KOLD News 13) - On Friday, Jan. 15, Arizona Gov. 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 the board chose a compromise: an 8.5-cent raise for the lowest paid workers, those making $35,000 or less. But for me, its encouraging that we have actually come together.. 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. It does not call for a second raise or a cut to the number of weeks people can get paid. The increases are tied to job performance and employees could increase two steps, or 5%, on his or her employment anniversary date. PASSED 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. . Nobody loves a budget once all the compromises are made, said Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray, R-Sun City. 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. $49.1 million for an across-the-board pay . Senate President Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby, last year successfully pushed to bring state workers up to a minimum $13 hourly wage. 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. "Arizona came in second to last. If prompted, enter your YES Username and Password. 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. Tags: Associated Press, legislation, business, property taxes, Arizona, education, state budgets. And it puts another $425 million in the rainy day fund to help the state weather a potential recession. The proposal also has $80 million in a salary reserve allowing. The Senate is adjourned until Monday, March 6, at 11 a.m. He pointed to officer pay in Texas and California, where rookie California Highway Patrol officers start at $93,000 a year. Keep reading with a digital access subscription. As new information becomes available related to submitting a new 2023 A4, it will be published here. A separate bill giving locality pay was scrapped in favor of this bill. The plan includes a handful of small, targeted tax cuts for farm machines and private planes but no large scale reductions. Gov. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. Phoenix, AZ 85007. But the fate of dollars for the rural and family lands program remained in flux late Tuesday. But for me, its encouraging that we have actually come together.. All rights reserved. Arizona Lawmakers Approve Bipartisan $18 Billion Budget, Marisol Garcia, Vice President of the Arizona Education Association, speaks during a news conference at the Arizona capitol Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Phoenix. HB 2805 was introduced by Republican Representative David Cook. This equals the increase in the Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation. The state hopes a new computer program will increase efficiency and allow employees across agencies to work together better. A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. 2.5-3% is an average salary increase in many sectors, including the government sector where federal employees will receive a base pay. Learn about Deferred Compensation and how this important employee benefit can assist you in Saving for the Future. ALL EMPLOYEES - ARIZONA STATE WITHHOLDING HAS BEEN UPDATED TO THE DEFAULT RATE 2.0%. DeSantis on masks, Florida school districts rebel against governor's mask order, presenting political test, Helped by federal aid, Gov. But for me, its encouraging that we have actually come together. The plan includes a handful of small, targeted tax cuts for farm machines and private planes but no large-scale reductions. 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. "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. The biggest share of the funds for higher education are linked to training in specialized fields. A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. 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. 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. "Weve got some quite a few critical positions that are vital to public safety," Karamargin said. Merit pay for selected workers raised the average pay for state employees by4.2 percent, under Ducey. 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. Cleaning house: DES director fires 72 for being bullies, but did he go too far? 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. But for Democrats, this may have been the last chance for the foreseeable future to make an imprint on the state budget. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. 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. For. 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. Now, this budget isnt perfect. "We werent competitive at that rate," Hawkins said. It creates a state version of the federal Earned Income Tax Credit that targets low-income households where someone is working and, in most cases, where there is a child. 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. The budget does have a specific sensitivity to how the COVID-19 outbreak has highlighted the shortage of nurses in the state. Doug Ducey or his political appointees have a much better shot of getting a big pay boost. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. But when the state alters the basis for how those taxes are assessed to reduce what business pays, it can shift the tax burden onto homeowners to pay for local governments, community colleges and other schools. She says it's the actual payment amounts that put Arizona at the bottom of her list. DATABASE:Here's how well Ducey rewarded his staff, agency heads. The governor wants to hire back 25 auditors. FOX 10's Matt Galka reports. 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. Subscribe to stay connected to Tucson. . We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. 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. Pass it along to the KTAR News team here. 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. Arizona state officials gave pay raises to 169 government workers without getting the required approval from the Department of Administration. 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. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Several lawmakers already are angling for even bigger tax cuts. Much of the new money for K-12 education, above inflation and enrollment growth, is earmarked for school capital needs. 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. To see your current elections and enroll, click the Employee or Retiree button in the upper lefthand corner of the page. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Visit the Benefits Website Links to some of the frequently visited benefits information: Employee Discounts (including tuition discounts) A spokeswoman for the agency could not say how many of those former employees were considered bullies and liars as well. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. This widespread removal of protections made possiblemass firings during the Ducey administration in a quest to shrink government. 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. March 10, 2022. 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. Department of Administration Human Resources. Likely there will be some sort of compromise concerning the two state bills. PHOENIX (AP) Arizonas 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. 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. Ironically, it was the Legislatures most conservative lawmakers who forced the hands of GOP leaders when they balked at initial, smaller spending proposals. 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. Stay up-to-date on the latest in local and national government and political topics with our newsletter.
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