The package of budget bills passed with overwhelming support, highly unusual in the modern era. Follow Arizona Mirror on Facebook and Twitter. State law gives the board the autonomy to change employee classifications and pay plans. A starting correctional officer earns just over $35,000 a year before the 20% premium pay. The Legislature set aside $84 million for much-needed job-class-specific pay increases. Arizona Department of Administration. The increases are tied to job performance and employees could increase two steps, or 5%, on his or her employment anniversary date. 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. State lawmakers worked overnight and passed a $15.6 billion budget in the early morning hours of June 23. 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The state Department of Corrections, Rehabilitation and Reentry and the Department of Public Safety have been struggling to hire and retain officers, in part because of wages that are low or uncompetitive. WebRaise Corporate STO Cap by $2 M; Increase Individual STO cap by $250/$500 in FY 24 (2.0) (11.9) (13.0) 10 Expand Vets Property Tax Exemption to all Disability Levels (Savings in '24) (Separate Bill) Yes - see ADE Yes - see ADE Yes - see ADE 11: Eliminate State Equalization Tax Rate see ADE see ADE see ADE He brings strong watchdog sensibilities and creative storytelling skills to the Arizona Mirror. Arizona State Retirement System (employees) Ghaddar Samer. A Silver Alert was issued Tuesday evening for a 80-year-old man with a medical condition last seen in Queen Creek. But for Democrats, this may have been the last chance for the foreseeable future to make an imprint on the state budget. 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. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. State lawmakers worked overnight and passed a $15.6 billion budget in the early morning hours of June 23. All rights reserved. Both are leaving the Legislature after this year. Arizona state officials gave pay raises to 169 government workers without getting the required approval from the Department of 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. WebThe Arizona State Retirement System Board of Trustees announced Friday, November 12, 2021 that qualified retirees will receive a Permanent Benefit Increase (PBI) to their monthly annuities, beginning with their July 2022 benefit check. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. The two-term governor, who leaves office in about six months, has made border security a goal throughout his tenure. The bipartisanship extended to opposition a handful of conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats voted against the budget deal. With this budget, were putting those dollars to good use and investing in priorities that Republicans and Democrats alike can agree on.. Long-serving state employees may be eligible for pay increases of up to 10% over the next few years. Across the Capitol complex, most of the bills in the Senate won the approval of at least 18 of the 30 senators. The agency pays its starting troopers about $57,000 a year, and the new 15% stipend gets them to $65,000, Hawkins said. 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. Right now, you can only earn $30 before benefits are reduced. That sentiment was echoed by Sen. Rick Gray, a Sun City Republican and the Senates majority leader, who said this was the first true bipartisan budget hed been a part of during his legislative career. Arizona Mirror is part of States Newsroom, a network of news bureaus supported by grants and a coalition of donors as a 501c(3) public charity. 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. While supporters backed raises for state employees and public safety workers as a recruitment tool, opponents questioned why raises for judges were necessary. And it puts another $425 million in the rainy day fund to help the state weather a potential recession. 1228 Magnolia Curve, Montgomery AL, 36106. All Rights Reserved. The budget also includes a provision that caps the revenue the state receives from sports betting at 10%, which Kingman Republican Rep. Regina Cobb said it was needed to keep the state competitive with states like Nevada. Senate Bill 531 applies to teachers, school counselors, school service personnel and State Troopers. State workers get a 10% pay raise, the first across-the-board pay hike in more than a decade. Lawmakers in the House and Senate ended a months-long impasse, working through the night to approve the budget shortly before sunrise. 0. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. The budget also includes nearly $1 billion that is earmarked for transportation projects across the state, particularly in rural Arizona. FOX 10's Matt Galka reports. Pass it along to the KTAR News team here. The plan also allocates $1.25 billion for state debt and pension obligations. The larger raise for troopers came out of debate about locality pay for state troopers in competitive areas, particularly Berkeley, Jefferson and Morgan counties. The budget is not sound and its not reflective of my conservative values, Ugenti-Rita said. The budget has nearly $600 million in new, permanent funding for public schools, up from about $330 million in the original proposal. The plan includes a handful of small, targeted tax cuts for farm machines and private planes but no large scale reductions. Republicans and Democrats joined forces early Thursday morning to pass a $15.8 billion budget that significantly increases K-12 funding and caps off a week of intense negotiations as state lawmakers scrambled to approve a spending plan and avert a state government shutdown on July 1. State workers get a 10% pay raise, the first across-the-board pay hike in more than a decade. WebHeres an example of the formula to be used for a qualified retiree with 20 years of service at the time of retirement: $11.49 X 20 years of service = $229.80 annual PBI, divided by 12 months = $19.15 increase to monthly benefit payment. Arizona Department of Administration. Private-sector employees can only dream of having that, said Sen. Henri Martin, R-Bristol. 2023 The Conneticut News Project. For 2023, lawmakers approved a 4% raise for state employees. |. March 10, 2022. A proposed expansion of a tax credit to subsidize private school tuition was removed from the must-pass budget, likely dooming it. That would be increased to $160. Doug Ducey, who appoints judges, a chance to further shape a conservative bench just ahead of his departure from office. The budget also includes a bigger write-off for people who donate to qualified charities and foster care organizations. May 6, 2022 Updated May 7, 2022. As part of House Bill 1, also known as the executive branch budget, state employees will receive an 8% across-the-board raise in the next fiscal year. As of April 8, 2021, both bills have passed where they were introduced and are awaiting full-floor discussions in the other. It would raise payments from $240 to $320, with a second increase to $400 when the state's unemployment fund is back to its normal level. Copyright 2021 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Duceys budget director, Matt Gress, informed the Republican Senate president and House speaker of his decision to tap the funds for premium pay in a Dec. 9 letter. May 4, 2022. May 6, 2022 Updated May 7, 2022. The result is a booming economy with record revenues, Ducey said in a statement. 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. Public education gets a $1 billion increase, which could translate into higher teacher pay, physical improvements for crumbling school buildings and put more police officers in schools. GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX. It is unclear whether Gov. Each year includes a 2.5% general wage increase, as well as a step hike for all but the most senior workers. Graham said the majority of employees at the top of their current pay structure will not see an immediate increase, but will at least be eligible for a pay increase within the next few years.. Republicans last year cut $1.7 billion in income taxes. 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