by Matthew Holloway | Jan 12, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Town of Gilbert is the target of a lawsuit by the Goldwater Institute on behalf of the Home Builders Association of Central Arizona and a local property owner, Jonathan Barth, for allegedly violating the Arizona Constitution which bans tax increases on “services.”
According to Goldwater, the tax increase imposed by the Town of Gilbert includes “many types of business that do not produce tangible goods, such as advertising, photography, utilities, hotel/lodging, and construction.”
Goldwater is challenging two of the tax increases in particular: on homebuilding and short-term rental properties.
As noted in the text of the lawsuit, the Arizona Constitution prohibits “any county, city, town, municipal corporation, or other political subdivision of the state, or any district created by law” from creating any new or increasing any existing transaction-based taxes on the “privilege to engage in, or the gross receipts of sales or gross income derived from, any service performed in this state.”
The new tax ordinance in question, per the Town of Gilbert’s website, imposes a 0.5% increase in the existing sales tax and creates a “use tax” to be “paid for by residents and businesses when purchases are made online with out-of-state vendors who do less than $100K of sales in Arizona per year.”
The lawsuit explains that, “As a result of the Ordinance, individuals, businesses, and taxpayers, including Plaintiff Jonathan Barth, who engage in the rental or lease of real property, including for transient lodging, will pay a higher tax rate for the services they perform. Additionally, individuals, businesses, and taxpayers that engage in general contracting services, including the members of Plaintiff Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (“HBACA”), will pay a higher tax rate on the services they perform.”
Barth, an educator and father of five, will be impacted because he earns supplemental income by managing his detached bungalow as a rental for short-term tenants. He told Goldwater, “This tax hike makes it all the more difficult to make ends meet in Gilbert.”
Former Mayor Brigette Peterson and all of the members of the Town Council are named as defendants in addition to the town itself.
The town allegedly intends to use the projected $55 million yield of this new tax for “Critical Infrastructure Projects,” adding that “Time is of the essence as many of Gilbert’s services are over capacity and new infrastructure is needed.”
The Goldwater Institute has found however, that these “Critical Infrastructure Projects,” include pickleball courts, splash pads, a ropes course, and a “statement” bridge.
The Home Builders Association of Central Arizona (HBACA) told Goldwater that the new taxes will result in increased construction costs in the town as well. HBACA CEO Jackson Moll warned, “Gilbert officials are trampling on their own constituents’ rights with no regard for the consequences their illegal actions will have on taxpayers and homebuyers. The Arizona Constitution is clear: increasing taxes on services, including on construction contracting, is unlawful.”
As previously reported by AZ Free News, the Goldwater Institute pursued a similar action against the Town of Payson in September when the Town Council decided to incur a $70 million debt via a bond measure without a public referendum.
Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 12, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
One of Arizona’s top Republican leaders is urging the incoming presidential administration to adopt his state’s regulatory oversight model.
Earlier this month, Senate President Warren Petersen wrote an op-ed for The Wall Street Journal, which was entitled, “Arizona’s Sunset Law Is an Example for DOGE.”
The piece was written as a roadmap to the proposed Department of Government Efficiency to be operated by the next Trump administration. President-elect Donald J. Trump has deputized Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy to run this department once the transition in American government becomes effective on January 20.
When Trump announced the formation of DOGE on November 12, he wrote, “It will become, potentially, ‘The Manhattan Project’ of our time. Republican politicians have dreamed about the objectives of ‘DOGE’ for a very long time. To drive this kind of drastic change, the Department of Government Efficiency will provide advice and guidance from outside of Government, and will partner with the White House and Office of Management & Budget to drive large scale structural reform, and create an entrepreneurial approach to Government never seen before.”
Trump added, “I look forward to Elon and Vivek making changes to the Federal Bureaucracy with an eye on efficiency and, at the same time, making life better for all Americans. Importantly, we will drive out the massive waste and fraud which exists throughout our annual $6.5 Trillion Dollars of Government Spending. They will work together to liberate our Economy, and make the U.S. Government accountable to ‘WE THE PEOPLE.’ Their work will conclude no later than July 4, 2026 – A smaller Government, with more efficiency and less bureaucracy, will be the perfect gift to America on the 250th Anniversary of The Declaration of Independence. I am confident they will succeed!”
In Petersen’s piece for the Journal, he writes, “To make these reforms last beyond his administration, Mr. Trump should also consider pushing for a federal law that has been effective at the state level. Every federal agency should be subject to a periodic sunset review requiring affirmative congressional reauthorization for the agency to continue in existence.”
Petersen added, “The federal government can, and should, learn from the states. Since 1978, Arizona has had a sunset law, which was signed by Democratic Gov. Bruce Babbitt. To combat the sins of government complacency, Arizona law requires the automatic expiration of all state agencies in 10 years or less, unless continued by the Legislature. In recent years, lawmakers have generally renewed agencies for eight years. During an agency’s ‘sunset review process,’ the Legislature’s independent auditor identifies inefficiencies, exposes fraud or abuse, quantifies costs imposed on consumers, and analyzes the continued need for the agency. As part of the review process, agency heads must answer direct criticisms from the testifying public, unshielded by the bureaucratic processes created to discourage accountability.”
The Senate President concluded his appeal to the incoming administration, saying, “The American people, not special interests or bureaucrats, are the sole beneficiary of the sunset review process. Arizona taxpayers have saved millions since 1978 from the repeal of unnecessary regulations and the termination of occupational boards that suppressed competition and inflated the cost of services while fulfilling no government function. Imagine the same for federal taxpayers. DOGE promises to save our nation from collapse beneath the weight of bureaucratic bloat and financial incompetence. I hope Congress goes one step further, ensuring that the good DOGE does is enshrined for many generations to come.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Staff Reporter | Jan 12, 2025 | Education, News
By Staff Reporter |
The newly elected Peoria Unified School District (PUSD) board president is a conservative mother, declining to re-elect the sitting president.
PUSD elected its new president, Heather Rooks, during Thursday’s regular board meeting following their 8-hour study session. Members Janelle Bowles, Jeff Tobey, and Becky Proudfit voted for Rooks, with only board member Melissa Ewing voting against. Ewing didn’t provide an explanation for her “no” vote.
Proudfit attempted to re-elect herself, but only Ewing voted for her.
Public comment on the board president election expressed hope in the prospect of new leadership.
One mother and community advocate, Nikki Eancheff, explained that Rooks helped her navigate school procedures after her daughter encountered a boy in a girls’ restroom at Liberty High School.
“What Mrs. Rooks said earlier today in the retreat, that she was elected by parents to be our voice and be our champion and advocate here in the board room and the district level is the truth,” said Eancheff.
Several other mothers also expressed their overt support for Rooks due to her prioritization of parents while backing public schools.
Kristen Balthis with the Peoria Principals’ Association said that while their organization didn’t endorse any one candidate, they supported the candidate that “can facilitate the education environment that allows our children to thrive.”
Teddy Todd, who has spoken out against PUSD board policies before, expressed her pleasure with the makeup of the governing board for this year, and said she hoped the president would foster “trust, hope, and collaboration” among all members.
However, those aligned with the teachers’ unions disagreed with some parents’ desire for change.
Trina Berg, president of the Peoria Education Association (PEA), asked for the reelection of Becky Proudfit for board president. PEA is part of the Arizona Education Association and the National Education Association. Berg questioned whether Rooks’ lawsuit against PUSD presented a conflict of interest.
In September 2023, Rooks sued PUSD for prohibiting her from quoting Bible verses during board meetings. The First Liberty Institute is representing Rooks in her case, which is ongoing. The Arizona District Court scheduled in-person oral argument for Friday in the case.
Berg also said that Rooks didn’t exhibit the qualities of a president, citing her past decisions to step out of executive meetings she felt should be public as well as Rooks’ decision to not silence certain speech from her supporters.
“Allowing misconceptions and sometimes downright misinformation to flourish and move through your group of supporters on social media without any correction is not leadership material,” said Berg.
Devon Moseler, vice president of PEA, also asked for the reelection of Proudfit for board president.
“We may not always agree with decisions that have been made, but we have appreciated the transparency and willingness to discuss challenging topics in an effort to understand the needs of our educators, administrators, and students,” said Moseler.
Proudfit’s husband, Taylor Proudfit, urged the board members to change their minds on Rooks and vote for his wife. Taylor claimed that board members supporting Rooks weren’t voting in accordance with their constituents.
Rooks’ rise to the leadership position came, in part, from the elections of new members Bowles and Tobey, ensuring the board’s flip to a majority of more conservative-minded members.
In recent years, the PUSD board came under community and even national scrutiny for adopting policies that favored progressive ideologies. This included the alignment with the Biden administration’s interpretation of Title IX which ordered schools to allow bathroom or locker room access based on gender identity. Ewing was one of the defendants of that policy, arguing that discrimination based on gender identity violates Title IX protections.
Rooks attended PUSD and graduated from Sunrise Mountain High School. Rooks first took office in January 2023.
Rooks’ campaign platform prioritized parental rights, academics, and organizational transparency. She ran in opposition to mandates for masks and COVID vaccines, Critical Race Theory ideology, and sexual content materials in classrooms.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 12, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanski |
A Republican Member of Congress in the Arizona delegation is cheering on his bill becoming law.
Last week, U.S. Representative Paul Gosar highlighted that H.R. 7365, the Veterans Expedited TSA Safe Travel Act, was signed into law by outgoing President, Joseph R. Biden.
Gosar said, “Very pleased that my bill, HR 7365 – the VETS Safe Travel Act, has been signed by Mr. Biden and is now the law of the land and will provide TSA’s PreCheck program to severely injured or disabled veterans free of charge.”
A press release from the White House thanked Representative Gosar “for his leadership.”
According to information from Gosar’s office, “under the VETS Safe Travel Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs would certify that a veteran is severely injured and therefore eligible to apply for the TSA PreCheck program free of charge. TSA would process the veteran’s application, granting access to TSA PreCheck program provided they successfully pass the necessary background check and interview process.”
Gosar’s office supplied data from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, showing that “approximately 325,000 veterans would become eligible for this free PreCheck screening program.”
The VETS Safe Travel Act was supported by the Wounded Warrior Project, Paralyzed Veterans of America, Disabled American Veterans, American Legion, Blinded Veterans Association, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Operation Second Chance, Inc., Unified Arizona Veterans, Texas Coalition of Veteran Organizations, and Veterans Airlift Command.
When this proposal passed the U.S. House of Representatives last month, Gosar said, “My great state of Arizona is home to over 450,000 veterans and nearly 30% of those live with a disability. Traveling through standard airport checkpoints with severe injuries can present significant challenges for disabled veterans. They often must wait in long and winding lines, remove their shoes, and maintain balance to stand in a security scanner. For many disabled veterans, these can be difficult tasks that can present a fall hazard or require special assistance.”
After the U.S. Senate passed the bill, he added, No American veteran, particularly disabled veterans, should be hassled at our airports. With successful passage in the Senate, the VETS Safe Travel Act is one step closer to becoming law.”
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Daniel Stefanski | Jan 11, 2025 | News
By Daniel Stefanksi |
A dangerous discovery was made in southern Arizona.
On Tuesday, Michael W. Humphries, the CBP Port Director of the Port of Nogales, alerted his followers on X that his team had uncovered a shocking load of weapons at the end of the previous year. He wrote, “CBP officers working outbound operations at the Nogales POE seized a rocket launcher and 2 rocket propelled grenades hidden in a car headed to Mexico. The cache was likely intended to protect the cartels and their fentanyl production labs in Mexico.”
Fox News journalist Bill Melugin noted the announcement from the CBP official, adding, “CBP seizes a RPG being smuggled into Mexico at the Nogales, AZ port of entry. Drugs go north, guns go south.”
In an exclusive comment to AZ Free News, Arizona Senate President Warren Petersen reacted to the news, saying, “This is a grim reminder of the dangers law enforcement officers are facing as a result of the Biden administration and our Governor not doing everything in their power to secure our southern border. Arizonans are eagerly awaiting when President Trump reinstates sanity and upholds the rule of law in our country, and Republicans at the Arizona Legislature will give him our full support in this important mission.”
One of Arizona’s top law enforcement officials, Cochise County Sheriff Mark Dannels, told AZ Free News that “the seizure of these military style weapons illustrates the networking between transnational-criminal cartels and those working on U.S. soil.”
The discovery in southern Arizona is another daily reminder of the dangers faced by the increasingly open and lawless border – especially over the past four years. While much attention is spent on the inbound traffic at and around the ports of entry at the border, there are too few resources and not enough attention to adequately identify the outbound traffic back into Mexico – like this shipment of seized weapons in Nogales. President-elect Donald J. Trump will be taking office in less than two weeks, and he and his team have vowed to crack down on the issues faced by Americans and law enforcement agents due to the porous border.
Daniel Stefanski is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
