Ducey supports extending Prop 301 sales tax

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From AZ Capitol Times:

Gov. Doug Ducey has signaled his support for extending a 0.6 percent sales tax hike that funds teachers’ salaries and performance pay beyond 2021, when it is set to expire.

Daniel Scarpinato, the governor’s spokesman, said Ducey is open to the timing of getting a measure on the ballot and other ideas for altering the tax, including expanding it, based on discussions with the education and business communities.

“Obviously, he wants to see Proposition 301 extended past the expiration,” Scarpinato told the Arizona Capitol Times. “The governor didn’t work that hard for Proposition 123 for us to then face a fiscal cliff. That would not be good for K-12. That would not be good for the state.”

Ducey’s support for extending or maybe even expanding Proposition 301 would be a major policy change, since the governor is adamantly opposed to any tax hike. In the past, Ducey has left the door open to the possibility of continuing the sales tax increase enshrined in Prop. 301.

In 2000, Arizona voters approved the additional tax, which allocates money for, among other areas, teacher pay increases and performance.

The tax brought in $644 million in FY2016, and losing the sales tax would leave a big funding hole in schools’ budgets.