Business and community groups took the first steps Tuesday to persuading Arizonans to raise the taxes on virtually everything they buy to build, widen and repair roads and fund a series of mass-transit projects — including a rail line from Tucson to Phoenix and perhaps beyond.

Arizona voters may get to choose how much they want to tax themselves for transit improvements and which projects would get funded. Rep. Russell Pearce, R-Mesa, is crafting a measure to impose a half-cent increase in the state's 5.6 percent sales tax for the next 20 years. Pearce said he still is exploring options.

 An ambitious statewide transportation measure, championed by Gov. Janet Napolitano and a cadre of Arizona’s most powerful interest groups, has failed to make the November ballot.

A majority of Arizonans are so frustrated with traffic congestion they are willing to hike their own taxes in hopes of fixing the situation, a new statewide survey shows.

A group of business leaders is hoping Arizonans are so fed up with getting stuck in traffic that they'll agree to pay another penny in taxes for every dollar they spend.

Gov. Janet Napolitano is defending plans to raise the state sales tax by a penny to fund transit improvements rather than tax those who will most directly benefit.

Several officials who are trying to merge Arizona’s school districts warned that their efforts could hurt students in the name of streamlining bureaucracy.

Business groups are crafting a $225,000 media blitz designed to pressure state lawmakers to support the call by Gov. Jan Brewer for higher taxes to balance the budget.

A veteran state lawmaker is proposing creation of government-run "energy parks" designed to facilitate construction of new solar, wind - and especially nuclear - power plants in Arizona.

August 18, 2004

A candidate for Maricopa County treasurer is claiming endorsements from people who said they never agreed to back him — and from people who support his opponent.

A dispute over the terms of a promise is causing a rift between backers of an effort to convince voters to hike their own taxes to pay for new roads. And the outcome could be less cash for the campaign down the road.

The finalized report from the School District Redistricting Commission will have Maricopa’s neighbors to the south merging with the Casa Grande Union High School District if voters give their approval this November.

Business and political leaders want to accelerate highway projects across the state because of explosive population growth.

Business and political leaders want to accelerate highway projects across the state because of explosive population growth.

The share of tax dollars that actually wind up in Arizona classrooms slid again last year, to the lowest level in the 12 years the state has been monitoring.

With a solar manufacturing plant hanging in the balance, a Glendale Republican lawmaker has quietly dropped her bid to kill the requirement that utilities generate more of their power from renewable sources.

Gov. Janet Napolitano says her support for a new sales tax to fund road and transit projects doesn't violate her pledge not to raise taxes to balance the state budget.

Business leaders from around the state have taken the first step toward what one says will probably be a request for voters to raise their own gas or sales taxes — or both — to build more roads.

Light-rail opponents in the Legislature have crafted a bill that would block taxpayers from funding the estimated $100 million cost of moving utilities in the system’s path.

A plan to shift the cost of new schools and school repair back to local districts appears dead in its tracks, the victim of business and school board opposition.

Ignoring threats by a company to pack up and leave, a House panel voted late Tuesday to overturn the renewable energy mandate on utilities by the Arizona Corporation Commission.

“Jennifer-Ryan Foster, a Mesa dispatch administrator with 911, thinks it is a great idea to hire part-time experienced 911 workers to save on benefits and overtime (Tribune, Saturday). Let’s go all the way and hire part-time 911 administrators. That would save a bundle in the benefits.”