by Ethan Faverino | Aug 5, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Maricopa County has secured a spot among Arizona’s top destinations for retirees, according to a new study by SmartAsset.
The study evaluated counties across the United States based on three key factors: tax-friendliness, access to medical care, and social opportunities, putting Maricopa County as an ideal location for those planning the golden years of retirement.
To assess tax-friendliness, the study calculated effective income and sales tax rates for a retiree earning $35,000 annually from retirement savings, Social Security, and part-time work, determining disposable income after taxes.
For medical care, the study measured the number of doctors’ offices per 1,000 residents, and the same for social opportunities, which measured the number by recreation and retirement centers per 1,000, along with the percentage of seniors in each county’s population.
Maricopa County ranked sixth in Arizona with a Best Place to Retire Index score of 43.1.
The county excels in medical care access, with 3.28 medical centers per 1,000 residents, one of the highest rates in the state.
With a tax burden of 15.82% and an offering of 0.12 recreation centers and 0.4 retirement centers per 1,000 people, Maricopa County provides a balanced environment for retirees seeking affordability, healthcare, and an active lifestyle.
While its senior population is lower at 15.99% compared to the top-ranked La Paz County (42.23%), Maricopa County’s urban amenities and vibrant community make it a standout choice.
Retirement dreams of adventure and relaxation require careful financial planning, often overlooked within daily expenses.
Experts recommend saving 10%-15% of annual income and targeting 25 times the yearly expenses to replace 70%-80% of pre-retirement income. For example, if somebody spends $50,000 annually in retirement, they should aim to save around $1.25 million through 401k, retirement, and other investments.
Maricopa County’s high density of medical facilities ensures retirees’ healthcare needs are met, addressing the rising healthcare costs that often challenge retirement budgets. Its moderate 15.82% tax burden supports financial planning by allowing retirees to stretch their savings further.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Aug 3, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
As Arizona counties finalize their budgets for Fiscal Year 2026, the majority are preparing to raise property taxes, with 11 of the state’s 15 counties proposing increases totaling nearly $54.8 million, according to the Arizona Tax Research Association’s (ATRA) July 2025 newsletter. The moves come amid population growth, infrastructure demands, and rising costs, but they have also triggered requirements under Arizona’s Truth in Taxation (TNT) law aimed at ensuring transparency.
ATRA’s analysis reveals that under state law, primary property taxes — which fund the general operations of county governments — are subject to TNT provisions. These rules require counties to notify taxpayers if their proposed tax levy exceeds the previous year’s amount, excluding new construction. Notifications must be published in newspapers of general circulation, and a public hearing must be held before any vote to approve the increase.
TNT also applies to some countywide special taxing districts, including those for libraries, flood control, and public health. While counties are allowed to raise taxes up to a constitutional limit — 2% above the previous year’s levy, plus new construction — only Apache and Coconino counties currently tax at that maximum level.
According to ATRA, of the counties planning tax hikes, Pima County stands out with the largest proposed increase: $33 million. This includes a nearly 25-cent hike in the primary property tax rate above TNT limits. Pima is also planning to exceed TNT thresholds for both its flood control and library districts.
Maricopa County, Arizona’s most populous, is proposing its first primary property tax increase in five years — not by changing the rate, but by holding it steady. Due to growth in the tax base, this would still result in a $12.5 million increase, exclusive of new construction.
In Coconino County, library district taxes are slated to rise 11.5% over TNT, generating approximately $780,000 in additional revenue. The county also plans to levy the maximum amounts for its primary property tax, as well as for its flood control and public health districts. Altogether, Coconino’s tax increase would total around $1.8 million.
Mohave County is eyeing a 7% increase in primary property taxes, which would raise about $3.2 million. Four counties — Graham, Greenlee, La Paz, and Pinal — have opted not to increase property taxes this fiscal year, bucking the statewide trend.
County officials say the proposed increases are necessary to sustain essential public services amid rising costs and growing populations. Still, the hikes are expected to generate scrutiny from taxpayers, especially in counties proposing large percentage increases or exceeding TNT thresholds.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 30, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
The Trump administration recently unveiled a proposal to repeal the 2009 “Endangerment Finding,” a controversial U.S. climate policy that declared carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases a threat to public health and welfare.
The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed rule, if finalized, would dismantle the legal foundation for numerous climate regulations under the Clean Air Act, repealing all resulting greenhouse gas emissions regulations for motor vehicles and engines.
EPA Administrator Lee Zeldin described the move as “the largest deregulatory action in the history of America,” arguing that the Endangerment Finding has been misused to impose costly regulations.
“There are people who, in the name of climate change, are willing to bankrupt the country,” Zeldin said. “They created this endangerment finding, and then they are able to put all these regulations on vehicles, on airplanes, on stationary sources, to basically regulate out of existence, in many cases, a lot of segments of our economy. And it cost Americans a lot of money.”
The proposal, which follows an executive order from President Trump, directs the EPA to review the findings’ legality. It is part of a broader push to roll back 31 environmental regulations.
Zeldin criticized the Obama and Biden administrations, saying they “twisted the law, ignored precedent, and warped science to achieve their preferred ends and stick American families with hundreds of billions of dollars in hidden taxes every single year.”
In states like Arizona, the Endangerment Finding has been used to enforce mandates and shut down energy sources that Arizona relies on.
The Arizona Free Enterprise Club celebrated the EPA’s proposal, viewing it as a critical step toward alleviating economic burdens imposed on Arizona families and businesses from overreaching environmental mandates.
The Club argues that the Endangerment Finding has forced the closure of reliable energy facilities and imposed costly environmental policies that have led to soaring utility costs and raised concerns about the reliability of the state’s energy grid.
Scot Mussi, President of the Arizona Free Enterprise Club, reacted to the Trump administration’s proposal, saying, “[The Endangerment Finding] has always been junk science used to shut down Arizona’s economy, close down our coal plants, and force our state into California-style green mandates. Repealing the Endangerment Finding is a necessary step to restore energy independence, protect ratepayers, and stop the unelected bureaucrats at the EPA from hijacking our economy in the name of climate alarmism.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 28, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
Arizona’s elderly population is facing a devastating wave of fraud, with seniors aged 60-69 losing a staggering $12,555,627 to scams in the first quarter of 2025, according to a new study done by cryptocurrency exchange ChicksX.
The Federal Trade Commission’s (FTC) Consumer Sentinel Network data reveals that 31.3% of Arizona residents in this age group targeted by fraudsters have suffered financial losses, with a median per-person loss of $1,000, nearly double the national average of $597.
The most common scams targeting Arizona seniors include business imposters (393 reports), government imposters (266 reports), and online shopping frauds (148 reports).
These scams exploit the trust of the elderly often through official-sounding phone calls, emails, or fake online deals.
Arizona ranks among the top states for fraud losses per report, with a per-report loss 99.8% higher than the national average.
The impact of fraud extends beyond the 60-69 age group. Arizona residents aged 70-79 filed 1,457 fraud reports with 29.3% resulting in financial loss, average $3,000 per person.
Those aged 80 and over reported 535 cases, with 28.8% losing funds at a median of $3,640 per incident.
In total, Arizona residents aged 50 and older lost over $41 million to fraud in Q1 of 2025.
“Fraudsters know that seniors may be more trusting, less familiar with online platforms or purchases, or unaware of how sophisticated modern scam attempts have become,” said CEO of ChicksX, Al Alof. “It’s essential that families and communities talk openly about these risks and the warning sign to prevent vulnerable individuals from falling victim.”
Nationally, 60,379 fraud reports were filed by those aged 60-69 in Q1 of 2025, with 29% resulting in financial losses totaling $354.9 million. Arizona ranks third among the hardest-hit states.
The states with the highest average fraud losses per report for this age group are:
- Alaska: $1,415 per report (121 reports, 26.4% with loss)
- North Dakota: $1,404 per report (79 reports, 39.2% with loss)
- Kansas: $1,000 per report (488 reports, 21.1% with loss)
The states with the lowest average fraud losses per report for this age group are:
- Vermont: $149 per report (118 reports, 24.6% with loss)
- South Dakota: $170 per report (118 reports, 44.1% with loss)
- Maine: $174 per report (396 reports, 18.9% with loss)
Al Alof and ChicksX share that the three tips to help avoid falling victim to fraud are, be suspicious of deals that are “too good to be true,” don’t answer calls that are unfamiliar, specifically ones that claim to be from Social Security or Medicaid, and ask family for help with unfamiliar phone calls or emails.
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Ethan Faverino | Jul 25, 2025 | Economy, News
By Ethan Faverino |
New research has shown the best cities in the United States for bargain shopping, with Mesa and Glendale, Arizona, both securing spots in the top 10.
Ranking seventh and fifth, these Arizona cities stand out as prime destinations for savvy shoppers seeking affordable deals, joining other top cities like New Orleans, Louisiana, and Orlando, Florida, in a nationwide ranking of budget-friendly shopping hubs.
The study, conducted by saving experts at BravoDeal.com, analyzed cities with populations over 200,000, evaluating the prevalence of affordable retail options such as vintage and thrift stores, pawn shops, discount stores, flea markets, used car dealerships, outlet stores, and wholesale stores.
Each city was assigned an index score out of 100 based on the number of these stores per 100,000 residents, revealing the best location for cost-conscious consumers.
Mesa, Arizona, earned its seventh place ranking with an index score of 60.28 out of 100. The city has the third-highest number of vintage and thrift stores nationwide, with 35.96 per 100,000 people, making it a hotspot for unique, second-hand finds.
Additionally, Mesa ranks fourth in pawn shops, with 8.01 per 100,000 residents.
Glendale, Arizona, claimed the fifth spot with an index score of 60.68 out of 100. The city leads the nation in pawn shops with 11.03 per 100,000 people, and ranks fourth for outlet stores, with 7.88 per 100,000 residents.
Glendale also secured the seventh spot for discount stores, with 27.97 per 100,000 people.
CEO and Co-Founder of Bravo Savings Network, Marco Farnararo, said, “The ranking is dominated by Southern states, taking up seven of the top 10 spots, and the remainder being occupied by states in the West. This could imply that there is a culture of budgeting and saving money in these regions more than in areas such as the Midwest or the Northeast.”
Ethan Faverino is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Jonathan Eberle | Jul 24, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
Republican leaders in the Arizona Legislature are highlighting a string of tax cuts they say are aimed at providing relief to working families, renters, and small business owners across the state. Over the past three years, lawmakers have passed three separate tax measures that they argue will reduce financial burdens for everyday Arizonans.
The most recent change, Senate Bill 1069, was approved last month and is set to take effect on January 1, 2026. The legislation raises Arizona’s business personal property tax exemption to $500,000, a move Republican lawmakers say will particularly benefit small businesses by cutting down on tax bills for equipment and other property used in daily operations.
In 2023, the legislature also passed Senate Bill 1184, which bans municipal excise taxes on residential leases starting in 2025. Supporters say the measure will help renters by prohibiting local governments from adding extra taxes to apartment and home leases, a cost often passed directly to tenants.
That same year, lawmakers enacted the Arizona Families Tax Rebate through Senate Bill 1734. The rebate provided one-time direct payments to Arizona households: up to $750 for single filers and up to $1,500 for joint filers. Families received $250 per child under 17, while older dependents qualified for $100 each.
Senate President Warren Petersen praised the tax cuts as part of a broader conservative approach to governance.
“At a time when families are feeling squeezed, we’re doing what government should—getting out of the way and letting our hardworking taxpayers keep more of what they earn,” Petersen said in a statement. “These tax cuts aren’t handouts. They’re the result of smart, conservative leadership that puts everyday Arizonans first.”
Petersen also framed the tax policy as aligned with President Donald Trump’s “America First” agenda, signaling that Arizona Republicans see these moves as part of a larger national effort to spur growth and reduce government intervention.
Democratic lawmakers, meanwhile, have raised concerns in past sessions that cutting taxes could limit state and local governments’ ability to fund essential services, including education and infrastructure. However, GOP leaders maintain that the state’s healthy revenues give them room to ease tax burdens without sacrificing core programs.
With these three measures now on the books, Arizona Republicans are positioning themselves as champions of taxpayer relief ahead of the 2026 legislative session and upcoming election cycles.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
