by Matthew Holloway | May 24, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
Arizona added 8,100 nonfarm jobs in April, outperforming the national monthly growth rate and ranking 16th among all states and Washington, D.C., according to a new analysis released by the Common Sense Institute (CSI) Arizona. The report, based on the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics data, found that while Arizona’s labor market showed improvement in April, broader employment growth in the state remains historically weak.
According to CSI’s Arizona Jobs and Labor Force April 2026 Update, Arizona posted a monthly employment increase of 0.25%, placing the state 16th nationally for job growth during the month. CSI reported that Arizona added 13,300 jobs over the past year, representing annual growth of 0.41% and marking the first positive year-over-year employment growth recorded in the state since August 2025.
Despite the gains, CSI’s analysis concluded that Arizona’s labor market continues to face longer-term challenges with growth “unusually and persistently slow.”
The report noted that statewide job growth has remained effectively flat over the past two years and follows several months of mixed labor market performance. In CSI’s previous employment update covering March 2026, Arizona lost 2,600 nonfarm jobs and recorded its seventh consecutive month of year-over-year job losses before April’s rebound returned annual growth to positive territory.
Arizona’s manufacturing sector continued to lag behind broader employment gains, while Mining and Logging posted the fastest monthly growth. The sector added 100 jobs over March, an increase of 0.60%. The report noted that “This is a comparatively small sector but it has shown consistent growth over the last five years; today the state’s mining sector employs 44% more workers than it did in June 2020.”
CSI reported that Arizona lost 500 manufacturing jobs year-over-year in April, while 39 states reported declines in manufacturing employment during the same period. The organization noted that manufacturing weakness has persisted both in Arizona and nationally in recent months.
Labor force indicators, including the unemployment rate and the labor force participation rate (LFPR), have remained largely unchanged since March.
Arizona’s unemployment rate held steady at 4.7% in April, matching the rate recorded in March, while labor force participation remained at 61.4%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and CSI’s analysis. State labor data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics similarly shows Arizona maintaining a 4.7% unemployment rate during April.
The report also found continued wage growth among Arizona workers.
According to CSI, average private-sector wages in Arizona increased 3.8% year-over-year, ranking the state third nationally in annual wage growth. Arizona workers now earn an average of $36.02 per hour, while real wages, adjusted for inflation, increased approximately 0.8% over the past year. By comparison, the average U.S. worker earned $37.41 per hour in April, an increase of 3.57% year over year.
CSI stated that although April represented a positive month for Arizona employment, the state’s labor market remains substantially weaker than the rapid growth experienced during the post-pandemic recovery period and continues to show signs of slower long-term expansion.
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 Matthew Holloway | May 23, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) is urging residents to contact their electric utility providers now as summer temperatures rise and higher electricity bills are expected to impact households across the state.
According to a press release, the ACC warned that triple-digit temperatures and increased air conditioning use typically drive significant month-to-month increases in electricity bills beginning in June and continuing through the summer months.
The commission said higher summer energy usage can create affordability challenges for households and businesses and encouraged customers concerned about paying utility bills to reach out to their electric providers before balances become unmanageable. Utilities may offer payment arrangements, budget billing programs, and financial assistance options to eligible customers.
“As we head into summer, I encourage ratepayers to explore ways to manage their energy use and to contact their electric utility if they need financial assistance,” Arizona Corporation Commission Chairman Nick Myers said. “The Commission’s responsibility is to ensure rates are just and reasonable, while ratepayers have the ability to control their monthly bills through their energy usage.”
Commissioner Lea Márquez Peterson urged customers to prepare early for summer utility costs and highlighted the commission’s seasonal protections against service disconnections.
“It’s important that our regulated utility customers prepare now for the heat of Arizona’s summer months by reaching out to their utility to learn about energy saving tips and programs that can help during financial hardships,” Márquez Peterson said. “Remember – the ACC has approved a disconnection moratorium from June 1 – October 15 to ensure customers are not disconnected for non-payment and can work out a payment plan.”
The ACC said weather remains the largest driver of summer electricity costs and advised consumers not to delay seeking assistance if they anticipate difficulty paying upcoming bills. The commission said early communication with utility providers can help customers access support programs and avoid financial hardship.
The commission also provided several energy-saving recommendations for Arizona residents during the summer months, including keeping blinds and curtains closed, using fans for personal cooling, limiting use of high-energy appliances during peak hours, regularly replacing HVAC filters, and investing in smart thermostats or energy-efficient appliances when possible.
According to the ACC, several utility providers and assistance organizations offer relief programs for qualifying customers. Those include Arizona Public Service’s Energy Support Program (ESP) and Crisis Bill Assistance (CBA) resources, Salt River Project assistance programs, Tucson Electric Power’s Power AZ program, UniSource Energy Services payment assistance, and programs administered through Wildfire and community action agencies.
APS is currently seeking a residential rate increase from the ACC of approximately 14.5%. Residents packed a recent hearing to oppose the proposal, while Administrative Law Judge Charles Hains began reviewing testimony and evidence that will inform a recommended rate decision for commissioners to consider.
In a statement to the outlet, APS defended the increase, stating that “… over the past five years, APS has experienced rapidly rising costs of equipment needed to deliver power to customers. One example is transformer costs which are, on average, 49–90% higher now than when our rates were last set.”
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 Matthew Holloway | May 22, 2026 | News
By Matthew Hollloway |
Rep. Eli Crane (R-AZ02) announced this week that language from his legislation aimed at restoring veterans’ Second Amendment rights has been incorporated into a bipartisan bill advancing through Congress.
According to a statement from Crane’s office, language from H.R. 496 was added to H.R. 1041, the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act, which passed the U.S. House of Representatives this week and now heads to the Senate.
The legislation would prohibit the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) from reporting veterans to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) solely because they receive assistance managing their VA benefits through a fiduciary program.
Crane’s provision incorporated into H.R. 1041 would restore Second Amendment rights to veterans previously reported to NICS solely due to fiduciary participation.
The measure would require a judicial determination that a veteran poses a danger to themselves or others before Second Amendment rights could be restricted through NICS reporting.
Crane said the addition of his bill language strengthens the legislation by addressing veterans already affected by the prior reporting policy.
“I’m pleased to see the House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs add my language from H.R. 496 to the Veterans 2nd Amendment Protection Act,” Crane said. “This addition strengthens the bill, ensuring the retroactive removal of veterans who were wrongly added to the FBI’s NICS list.”
House Veterans’ Affairs Committee Chairman Rep. Mike Bost (R-IL) said the legislation is intended to protect veterans receiving financial assistance services from losing constitutional rights without court involvement.
“The men and women who have served and defended Constitutional rights for generations of Americans should not have to worry that they will be reported to NICS and lose their rights simply because they need help managing their books,” Bost said. “Veterans should never be treated like second-class citizens.”
Rep. Morgan Luttrell (R-TX), chairman of the Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subcommittee, also supported the measure, stating that only courts—not agency officials—should determine whether constitutional rights are restricted.
The legislation follows policy changes announced earlier this year by the Department of Veterans Affairs. In February, the VA announced it would stop reporting veterans enrolled in the fiduciary program to NICS solely because they receive assistance managing benefits. The department stated it was also working with the FBI to remove prior VA-related NICS submissions connected only to fiduciary participation.
VA Secretary Doug Collins said at the time that veterans had been deprived of Second Amendment rights without sufficient due process protections.
Following House passage, Crane praised the legislation and urged Senate approval.
“If the federal government is willing to strip the God‑given, unalienable rights of those who served in uniform, there is no telling where they will draw the line. H.R. 1041 codifies the termination of this un‑American practice and prevents future administrations from unilaterally reversing this wise decision.”
He added, “I’m grateful to President Trump for protecting the rights of our nation’s heroes, and I appreciate Chairman Bost for adopting my language into his bill. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to quickly pass these necessary reforms.”
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 Matthew Holloway | May 21, 2026 | News
By Matthew Holloway |
Maricopa County Recorder Justin Heap declined what his office described as a last-minute request from the Maricopa County Board of Supervisors to appear before the board regarding a proposed resolution on ballot drop box locations, a move that further escalates an ongoing dispute over election authority in Arizona’s largest county.
The Recorder’s Office said it was not consulted on the proposed drop box locations and only became aware of them after the board publicly posted its meeting agenda. It added that the board requested Heap’s appearance with less than an hour’s notice, without providing advance questions or topics, and characterized the request as “political theater” rather than a genuine attempt at cooperation. The office also argued that Heap did not have sufficient time to review the proposal for legal compliance, operational feasibility, or voter access concerns.
According to a statement, the recorder’s legal counsel previously provided the board with objections asserting that Arizona law places authority over ballot drop boxes with the recorder’s office rather than the Board of Supervisors. The office also cited ongoing litigation between the parties as a reason Heap declined to participate in what it described as an impromptu public examination concerning active legal disputes.
“The Recorder remains willing to meet in a properly noticed setting and resolve these issues professionally and cooperatively if the Board is willing to do the same,” the statement said.
The dispute follows months of legal conflict between Heap and the Board of Supervisors over control of election administration duties in Maricopa County.
Heap said, “The law is not optional. The Court has already ruled that the Board does not possess unlimited authority over election administration, yet the Board continues attempting to exercise powers Arizona law assigns to the Recorder.” He added, “Voters deserve lawful, professional election administration, not political gamesmanship and last-minute public ambushes.”
In April, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Scott Blaney ruled largely in Heap’s favor in a lawsuit challenging the board’s authority over election operations. Blaney determined the board exceeded its statutory authority by maintaining control over election-related personnel, systems, and functions that legally belong to the recorder’s office. The ruling affirmed greater authority for the recorder over early voting administration and rejected the board’s assertion of broad supervisory authority over election administration.
The Board of Supervisors subsequently voted to authorize 237 vote centers and drop box locations for the upcoming July primary election, according to a press release issued the same day. The Board also voted unanimously to transfer funds to create eight full-time IT positions in the County Recorder’s Office.
“I am willing to put in the hours to work with Recorder Heap to hammer out our differences for the benefit of our voters,” MCBOS Vice Chair Debbie Lesko said during the meeting. “That is why the Chair and I are calling on Recorder Heap to come to the table.”
Chair Kate Brophy McGee said in a statement, “Election systems work best when chain of command and procedures are clear. That clarity is what the Board is seeking in requesting face-to-face meetings with Recorder Heap, as well as in our appeal of the ruling in Heap v. Galvin, et al.” She added, “We are committed to ensuring the Recorder is able to carry out his statutory duties just as we are committed to carrying out ours on behalf of voters.”
In a post to X, Heap wrote, “The Board is having a full meltdown because I objected to a resolution unlawfully giving themselves control over ballot drop boxes and declined to appear for a surprise public interrogation on less than an hour’s notice. The Court has already ruled that the Board does not have unlimited authority over elections, yet it continues attempting to exercise powers Arizona law assigns to the Recorder. Voters deserve lawful election administration, not political stunts and last-minute public ambushes.”
The dispute centers on how election responsibilities are divided between the recorder and the Board of Supervisors, including authority over early voting operations, election infrastructure, and ballot drop boxes. The board maintains it has sought negotiated agreements governing election administration, while Heap and his office argue Arizona law assigns specific election duties directly to the elected recorder. Maricopa County Superior Court denied the board’s request for a stay pending appeal on May 13 and ordered restoration of the recorder’s authority under the earlier ruling.
The drop box resolution and Heap’s refusal to appear before the board mark the latest developments in the continuing dispute as Maricopa County prepares for upcoming election cycles.
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 Matthew Holloway | May 21, 2026 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Maricopa County Board of Supervisors (MCBOS) approved a tentative $4.1 billion FY 2027 budget this week and scheduled a Truth in Taxation hearing over proposed increases in the county’s primary property tax levy and primary property tax rate.
In a May newsletter emailed to constituents, District 1 Supervisor Mark Stewart described the tentative budget as consistent with a focus “on keeping property taxes low,” despite the increases noted in the county’s Truth in Taxation Calculation.
According to Maricopa County, the tentative budget unanimously approved on May 18 reflects what county officials described as a fiscally conservative approach focused on maintaining services, preserving reserves, and reducing the overall property tax rate for a sixth consecutive year. County officials stated that the county’s tax levy remains $278.4 million below the maximum permitted under Arizona law.
In a press release announcing the tentative budget approval, Board Chair Kate Brophy McGee said county officials faced difficult fiscal decisions amid economic uncertainty.
“There’s no way to sugarcoat this: with an uncertain statewide economic outlook, it’s a tough year to budget,” Brophy McGee said. “To best serve our taxpayers, we had to say ‘no’ to most spending requests.”
Vice Chair Debbie Lesko said the county continues to prioritize limiting tax burdens on residents. “Keeping your taxes as low as possible has always been one of my top priorities,” Lesko said. “This year, we are once again voting to cut your property tax rate, showing that Maricopa County leads the way in fiscal responsibility.”
However, documents accompanying the tentative budget show, as in 2025, the county is proposing an increase in its primary property tax levy that requires a Truth in Taxation hearing under Arizona law.
According to Maricopa County’s FY 2027 Truth in Taxation calculation, the proposed primary property tax levy would increase from $719.1 million, the maximum amount that could be imposed without a Truth in Taxation hearing, to approximately $735.9 million. After excluding new construction, the proposed increase totals approximately $16.46 million, or 2.34%. The proposed primary tax rate would be 1.1463, compared to 1.1201, the maximum rate that could be imposed without triggering a Truth in Taxation hearing.
A home assessed at $100,000 would see the county’s primary property tax rise from $112.01 to $114.63, an increase of $2.62. The county’s Truth in Taxation calculation estimates the proposed levy exceeds the non-hearing threshold by approximately $16.46 million.
The Truth in Taxation analysis provided by the county states that the current primary property tax levy totals approximately $703.9 million and reflects assessed valuation and new construction calculations required under Arizona law.
County officials have emphasized that property valuations are determined separately from the Board’s tax-rate decisions and that Maricopa County receives only a portion of overall property tax collections. In prior Truth in Taxation notices, the county stated that it historically receives approximately 11 cents of every property tax dollar collected.
The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to hold a public Truth in Taxation hearing on June 22, 2026, at 9:30 a.m. at the Board of Supervisors’ Auditorium before final adoption of the FY 2027 budget and tax levy.
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.
