And it puts another $425 million in the rainy day fund to help the state weather a potential recession. 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All rights reserved. The result is a booming economy with record revenues, Ducey said in a statement. The increases are tied to job performance and employees could increase two steps, or 5%, on his or her employment anniversary date. 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. The package of budget bills passed with overwhelming support, highly unusual in the modern era. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, is the General Election and all state government employees are encouraged to vote. Check to see if your provider is on the plan and see the plan coverage by visiting. Tuesday, November 8, 2022, is the General Election and all state government employees are encouraged to vote. The Supreme Court has rejected appeals from Arizona and Nevada involving the rights of same-sex couples. The rest of Arizona'spublic servants? Every single budget's bad, Gray said. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. 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. Ducey released a 'recovery-focused' budget for Fiscal Year 2022, and he plans in making investments in K-12 education, public health, public safety, wildfire prevention, infrastructure and more, while also providing tax relief to residents. The best states in the U.S. come from coast to coast. Doug Ducey quietly tapped $95 million in federal coronavirus relief money in November to boost pay for state troopers, prison guards and workers in several other state departments deemed essential. Right now, you can only earn $30 before benefits are reduced. The average raise for a Ducey staffer was 11 percentsince he took office. Doug Ducey, despite lean budget, awards hefty pay raises to his staff, Teachers union to fight for 20 percent raises, just like Gov. This is really just getting on a soap box and vilifying immigrants and creating a political point, Quezada said. The fiscal year 2023 budget was. This equals the increase in the Consumer Price Index, a key measure of inflation. But for Democrats, this may have been the last chance for the foreseeable future to make an imprint on the state budget. 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. 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. Take away federal money and pandemic extensions, and Arizona is left with a bare-bones unemployment insurance system. Senate Bill 1828(Laws 2021, Fifty-fifth Legislature, 1st Regular Session)amended the individual income tax withholding brackets. Other state employee raises are reflected in the budget bill that is . What they envision, however, is not the style of fence the feds already built before construction was stopped by the Biden administration. Marisol Garcia, Vice President of the Arizona Education Association, speaks during a news conference at the Arizona capitol Tuesday, June 21, 2022, in Phoenix. 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 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. The plan includes a handful of small, targeted tax cuts for farm machines and private planes but no large scale reductions. 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. 2305. While pay raises look settled, Trumbull and Stargel held a later Tuesday meeting to address dozens of other spending issues. Republicans are widely expected to expand their majority in the 2022 election thanks to new district boundaries that appear to favor the GOP. Doug Ducey's proposal to spend $1.1 billion on desalination and other water infrastructure ignores other potential , For Star subscribers:Gov. The agency pays its starting troopers about $57,000 a year, and the new 15% stipend gets them to $65,000, Hawkins said. State employees will get a raise, many for the first time in a decade. And just over a month ago, this is exactly what happened in Arizona, as former state CIO Aaron Sandeen passed the torch to our new state CIO Morgan Reed. Not so much, according to public records obtained by The Arizona Republic. 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. For more information, refer to the web story from AZDOR:Arizonas Employees Have New Tax Withholding Options. Senate Bill 531 applies to teachers, school counselors, school service personnel and State Troopers. U of A's $2.3 billion budget earmarks $51.5 million for employee raises. 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. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) The Associated Press, By BOB CHRISTIE and JONATHAN J. COOPER, Associated Press. They apparently succeeded Tuesday, but still unclear in negotiations was whether teachers and staff in these districts would be eligible for the new school recognition awards. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. Only a handful of dissenters from each party voted against the package of bills, and Republican Gov. But for me, its encouraging that we have actually come together.. Ironically, it was the Legislatures most conservative lawmakers who forced the hands of GOP leaders when they balked at initial, smaller spending proposals. The budget also makes a $1.1 billion deposit into the pension fund for public safety and corrections officers, paying off the state's unfunded liability for future retirement benefits. 23/06/2022 State employees will get a raise many for the first time in a decade. Virtual meetings will be held at various times throughout February, March and April 2023. 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. To keep your FSA for healthcare, limited purpose, or daycare/elder care, you must re-enroll each year. A salary increase with a chosen percent pay increase. % of gross taxable wages starting January 2023. 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. For. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Nobody loves a budget once all the compromises are made, said Senate Majority Leader Rick Gray, R-Sun City. Arizona state employee raises 2022; Arizona state employee raises 2022. by: Admin . 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. Arizona's legislature approved a bipartisan $18 billion spending plan early. Merit pay for selected workers raised the average pay for state employees by4.2 percent, under Ducey. 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. By clicking Accept, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies. Ducey listed water, education, and border security as his priorities. Karamargin, Duceys spokesman, said there is increasing competitiveness in all sorts of jobs. Note: Elective benefits for new employees may be subject to a 90-day waiting period. Strictly speaking, the state gets no property tax revenues. Please take this into consideration when planning for the avoidance of forfeiture of excess hours. 2023 FOX Television Stations. 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. Rowan has spent the last few months going through unemployment data from states, giving context to the problems we are seeing now. The 33rd annual Glendale Folk and Heritage Festival will bring hundreds of performers to Historic Sahuaro Ranch Park Saturday and Sunday. Both measures will allow laid-off . Select the Your Employee Services > AZPerforms bookmark. Have a story idea or tip? 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. 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. 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. Kathryn Palmer. Tiny majorities in both chambers meant opposition from a single Republican lawmaker was enough to sink the budget if Democrats were united in opposition. To access Y.E.S. 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. The House is adjourned until tomorrow, March 4 at 9 a.m. 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. 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. . Ironically, it was the Legislatures most conservative lawmakers who forced the hands of GOP leaders when they balked at initial, smaller spending proposals. The Senates proposal excluded current Agriculture Commissioner Nikki Fried, a Democrat and candidate for governor, from having access to the funds. But how long is needed to finish the budget work appears to be an unknown at the moment. 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. Gov. 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. In K-12 education, negotiators reached general agreement on an almost $385-per-student increase in school funding an almost 5% boost that would bring funding to an average $8,143 for each of Florida's 2.9 million school kids. 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. Jan 14, 2022 Updated Feb 19, 2023 PHOENIX Buoyed by strong state revenues, Gov. It also eliminates the state equalization tax, a property tax for education, and backfills it with $330 million from the general fund. Arizonas individual income tax rates were substantially reduced starting with the 2022 tax year. Gov. Several lawmakers already are angling for even bigger tax cuts. 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. That has proven a a nonstarter among lawmakers who have to go to those same homeowners every two years to get reelected. 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. Any hours in excess of the maximum carryover limits are subject to forfeiture. With this budget, were putting those dollars to good use and investing in priorities that Republicans and Democrats alike can agree on.. John Kennedy is a reporter in the USA TODAY Networks Florida Capital Bureau. 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%. About one-third of the top positions for Arizona state agencies received a boost in pay for 2015, with many of Governor Doug Ducey's new hires now getting paid substantially more than their . 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. Hundreds of millions are set aside for water infrastructure as the state faces prolonged drought. 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.