by Jonathan Eberle | Jun 17, 2025 | Economy, News
By Jonathan Eberle |
In a move that signals both a shift in corporate strategy and a broader commentary on the business climate in the Pacific Northwest, Dutch Bros, one of Oregon’s most iconic homegrown brands, is officially relocating its headquarters from Grants Pass, Oregon, to Phoenix, Arizona.
The fast-growing drive-thru beverage chain, known for its coffee and energy drinks and its fiercely loyal customer base, announced that the transition to Arizona will help better position the company for its next phase of growth.
“To support the next phase of Dutch Bros’ growth, we’re relocating additional roles to our new Phoenix office and making strategic changes to the structure of several teams,” Dutch Bros said in a statement. “Bringing more people together will allow us to better serve our customers and crews across the country.”
The move had been anticipated for some time. CEO Christine Barone has operated from Arizona since 2023, and the company has steadily increased its corporate presence in the Phoenix area since early 2024. Arizona policymakers are touting the relocation as a major win for the state.
The announcement sparked immediate reactions back in Oregon, where Dutch Bros began in 1992 as a single coffee cart run by brothers Travis and Dane Boersma. Now a national brand with over 1,000 drive-thru locations and 26,000 employees nationwide (including franchises), Dutch Bros has grown annual sales from $240 million in 2018 to $1.3 billion last year. The company projects another 22% increase in 2025.
The reasons behind the move appear primarily logistical and strategic. The company cited the need to be closer to high-growth markets like Texas and the Southeast, and near a major airport to facilitate executive travel. Challenges in recruiting young professionals to rural Oregon—specifically a lack of child care—also played a role in earlier internal discussions.
Terry Hopkins, CEO of the Grants Pass and Josephine County chamber of commerce, acknowledged the emotional and economic impact of the headquarters relocation but expressed hope that Dutch Bros would remain a strong local presence. “We’ll definitely feel the impact. We’ve been fortunate,” he said, noting the Boersma family still lives in the area and continues to be active in the community.
As Dutch Bros continues its rapid national expansion—with aspirations for 7,000 locations—the company’s move may serve as both a business milestone and a broader statement about where companies see opportunity, talent, and infrastructure aligning for long-term success.
Jonathan Eberle is a reporter for AZ Free News. You can send him news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 16, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
A new report from the Common Sense Institute of Arizona (CSIAZ) has laid to rest claims that Arizona’s budget deficit stems from the state’s adoption of a 2.5 percent flat tax. The report found that the deficit is attributable to increased spending by the state in the last year. The report also found that in defiance of detractors, the flat tax has actually led to an increase in state tax revenues, and Arizona is once again experiencing a budget surplus.
In a statement, CSIAZ Director of Policy & Research Glenn Farley said, “The facts tell a very different story than many of the headlines would lead us to believe. The data shows us that Arizona’s revenues are strong, local governments are collecting more than ever, and education spending is at an all-time high. The flat tax has not created a revenue crisis—but rapid and unsustainable spending growth has created real budget pressures. If we want to restore stability, we need to focus on the underlying drivers of the imbalance.”
The report from CSIAZ offers a direct refutation of a claim made by the far-leftist think tank Center on Budget and Policy Priorities (CBPP), which claimed in 2024 that the state would face a $1.6 billion deficit through fiscal year 2025 due to the flat income tax and universal private school vouchers. This assessment, however, leaves off a critical necessity in any conservative budget: spending cuts.
Farley and Senior Economist Thomas Young found unequivocally, “Since the flat tax passed, state revenues have grown by $3.3 billion. But the state budget is 25% larger than it was; at peak spending was up $3.7 billion, and even today it’s still up over $2.5 billion versus pre-flat Tax. If spending had followed historical trends, Arizona would have had a $4.3 billion surplus rather than a $1.6 billion cash shortfall last year.”
Farley and Young also debunked a claim from Dave Wells, Research Director at the Grand Canyon Institute (GCI) on “Arizona Horizon” who claimed in October 2024, “The flat tax’s $2 billion annual cost has had visible consequences and was a prime contributor to the budget deficits and cuts made during this legislative session.” They noted that despite forecasts that the budget would cost $4 billion over the next decade, updated estimates accounting “for dynamic effects and rapid growth in other tax types,” adjusts that to a more modest $1.4 billion impact while “revenue growth from a strong economy has more than offset the difference, meaning the state still collects more each year than before the tax cut.”
Much closer to home, claims that the tax reforms haven’t helped everyday Arizonans can be confidently cast aside with the fact that the average Arizonan saves about $400 per year from the flat tax while per-capita income has risen by 68% since 2015, with Arizona’s economic growth far outpacing the rest of the nation.
The report also addressed claims that the reforms hurt city budgets, despite the reforms increasing the share of state income tax filtered down to city and municipal governments by three percent from 15% to 18%, totaling an additional $250 million over two years. The report also refuted claims that education spending would be cut as a result of the flat tax with K-12 education spending up nearly 80% since 2010, growing by 14% since 2022.
Essentially, CSI Arizona has shown that arguments against a flat tax are definitively driven by politics and rhetoric, not facts.
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 Staff Reporter | Jun 11, 2025 | Economy, News
By Staff Reporter |
The inventor and top distributor of the Taser, Axon Enterprise, says it will no longer be working with the Scottsdale City Council on their new headquarters.
That’s not to say Axon will leave Scottsdale or the state. Axon leaders clarified the company only intended to keep city leaders out of discussions to establish their new headquarters going forward.
Axon President Josh Isner announced on Monday the company withdrew from negotiations with city leaders on building their new headquarters. Isner blamed the “toxic” political climate of Scottsdale City Council.
“Unfortunately, Axon is withdrawing from negotiations with the City of Scottsdale,” said Isner. “The internal politics of the City Council currently make it impossible to reach an agreement. I have never seen such a toxic environment in my life. We put a great deal on the table and we tried our best.”
Scottsdale City Councilman Adam Kwasman said he was disappointed in his fellow council members for refusing Axon’s negotiations. Kwasman said he would work on another solution to keep Axon from leaving.
“[Axon’s] offers were generous and would have benefitted both Scottsdale and Arizona as a whole,” said Kwasman. “I am saddened that my colleagues could not share in a vision that would have reduced approved density, reduced approved apartments, funded police, and built an incredible partnership between the city and one of America’s best companies.”
Isner thanked Kwasman and Scottsdale Mayor Lisa Borowsky for their efforts to keep negotiations afloat.
“You came to the table in a solution-oriented and thoughtful way,” said Isner. “It was a pleasure working with you on this and appreciate your continued support of Axon.”
Borowsky, in turn, thanked Axon for their willingness to negotiate and expressed disappointment at the impasse between the company and the council.
“Unfortunately, there were too many hurdles to overcome in order to move an agreement forward successfully,” said Borowksy. “I remain hopeful that future negotiations result in a win-win agreement that works for the community and keeps this vital employer right where it belongs – in Scottsdale.”
Not all leaders representing the area were pleased with Axon’s actions up to this point.
State Rep. Joseph Chaplik accused Axon of navigating the dealmaking process dishonestly. Chaplik told Axon to make good on their threat of leaving the state by disclosing where they planned to move their operations.
“They have divided the Republican caucus and they are now dividing the city council. They do not listen to the people of Scottsdale, who I represent. They have bypassed all proper channels to resolve their land use issues,” said Chaplik. “Their tactics included bullying, threatening and securing close door meetings. This is not how a transparent company operates.”
Although these recent negotiations didn’t go Axon’s way, the company did see wins in other areas recently. Governor Hobbs signed a bill retroactively preventing zoning decisions from becoming ballot questions. The new law nullifies a referendum effort by 27,000 Scottsdale residents challenging Axon’s planned headquarters — under that referendum, voters would have decided on the proposed headquarter’s fate in 2026.
AZ Free News is your #1 source for Arizona news and politics. You can send us news tips using this link.
by Matthew Holloway | Jun 2, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The State of Arizona led the United States in monthly job growth for the month of April according to a report released by the Common Sense Institute of Arizona (CSIAZ) following a three-month period of negative annual growth.
As reported by the CSIAZ, Arizona saw an increase of 14,200 non-farm jobs in the month of April for an increase of 0.44% or a year-over-year increase of 0.76%, ranking the state first in the nation for monthly job growth. Overall, the total job-growth in the U.S. was 0.11%, with eleven states losing jobs. However, despite the job growth, the CSIAZ reported that inflation-adjusted wages have decreased by 4.2% since 2020, and total employment remains over 212,000 jobs under the pre-pandemic trend.
In a posting to X, CSIAZ noted that in the last 12 months, the state gained 24,600 jobs for a 0.76% increase.
According to the report, the job gains haven’t been consistent across various industries, with clear winners and losers:
“The state’s fastest growing sector over the past twelve months was Education and Health Services, adding 22,600 jobs (+4.2%). Its slowest growing sector was Professional and Business Services, which lost -4,400 jobs (0.9%). The Education and Health Services sector has steadily grown since 2020 (losing only 48,000 jobs during the pandemic) and is now at its all-time highest level of employment. Professional and Business Services on the other hand peaked in January 2024 but has been declining since.”
Drilling into discrepancies in wages and time worked, Arizona workers experienced a decrease in non-seasonally adjusted wages of -$0.13 during the month of April, placing Arizona far behind the rest of the country’s steady, though anemic, wage growth rate of +$0.06 over the same month. But year-over-year Arizona is continuing to outperform the U.S. average with wage growth of $1.49, up 4.5% annually.
This wage growth, however, has failed to keep up with CPI Inflation as noted earlier, making Arizonans feel a pinch at the register, and as CSIAZ explained, real wages were only up “4.2% year-over-year and after CPI inflation, compared to the April nominal increase of 4.4%.”
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 | Jun 2, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The Phillips 66 Los Angeles Oil Refinery, in operation for 102 years, is set to shut down in October and will leave California with a dwindling network of just eight refineries remaining. The closure places the already fragile supply lines of gasoline and diesel fuel for California, Arizona, and Nevada in question.
All three states utilize California’s Low Carbon Fuel standard for fuel known as California Reformulated Gasoline (CaRFG), which is 90% petroleum-based gasoline and 10% ethanol, ostensibly designed to reduce air pollution and decrease emissions of smog-forming toxins. The closure is expected to have a wide impact across the region on prices for gasoline, diesel, and even aviation fuels.
The Phillips 66 refinery accounts for approximately 8.57% of California’s overall refinery capacity. The closure, announced last year, drew bipartisan pleas from Arizona and Nevada’s governors to California’s Governor Gavin Newsom who asked him not to authorize new legislation that allows California to demand more fuel be held in-state for California’s needs, regardless of outside demand.
Arizona’s Democrat Governor Katie Hobbs and Nevada’ Republican Governor Joe Lombardo said in a joint statement, “It is evident that increased regulatory burdens on refiners and forced supply shortages will result in higher costs for consumers in all of our states. With both of our states reliant on California pipelines for significant amounts of our fuel, these looming cost increases and supply shortages are of tremendous concern to Arizona and Nevada.”
According to OANN, a spokesman for Newsom told the outlet that the California law will “prevent price spikes that cost Californians upwards of $2 billion last year, giving the state more tools to require that petroleum refiners backfill supplies and plan ahead of maintenance.” Although he reassured Californians at the time that “the state has the tools to make sure they backfill supplies and plan ahead for maintenance,” he made no such reassurance to Arizona or Nevada.
California Republican Assemblywoman Kate Sanchez warned in a post to X, “Expect CA gas prices to skyrocket and more refineries to shut down as Sacramento Democrats double down on their agenda to exterminate affordability and make a middle-class life impossible to achieve for millions.”
Newsom accused Hobbs and Lombardo of repeating Big Oil talking points, saying their concerns reflected “the oil industry’s talking points rather than the facts.” He claimed that the California Energy Commission will be able to dampen price spikes and supply shortages with a spokesman calling their letter a “stunt” to appease “Big Oil Donors.”
Newsom signed the bill over the objections of both neighboring governors.
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 24, 2025 | Economy, News
By Matthew Holloway |
The ‘One, Big, Beautiful Bill’ was passed in a late-night round of voting in the U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday with near-unanimous support from Republicans. The massive and wide-reaching budget reform bill now moves to the Senate
Two House Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie (R-KY) and Warren Davidson (R-OH), opposed the measure. Rep. Andy Harris (R-MD) voted ‘Present’ and two Congressmen, Reps. Andrew Garbarino (R-NY) and David Schweikert of Arizona, reportedly missed the vote accidentally, but would have voted in favor.
Commenting on the result of the vote, Speaker Mike Johnson told reporters on Thursday morning, “I just want you to know for the record, we really had 217 votes this morning. Andrew Garbarino did not make it in time. He fell asleep in the back, no kidding. I’m going to strangle him. But he’s my dear friend.” He added, “David Schweikert was going to vote and slipped his card in right at the last minute so it looks like a razor thin margin, 215 to 214 and one present, it was really 217.”
The remaining members of the Arizona House Republican Caucus: Reps. Andy Biggs, Juan Ciscomani, Paul Gosar, Eli Crane, and Abe Hamadeh all voted in favor. Arizona Democrat Reps. Yassamin Ansari and Greg Stanton both joined their party opposing the measure.
Congressman Abe Hamadeh posted to X Thursday detailing the bill’s primary benefits, “Congressman Hamadeh proudly voted in favor of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, keeping his promise to fully fund and advance President Trump’s incredible America First agenda. The bill:
• Delivers Permanent Tax Cuts
• Eliminates Taxes on Tips and Overtime
• Provides Tax Relief for Seniors
• Boosts Economic Growth and Wages
• Supports Small Businesses and Manufacturers
• Enhances Family and Education Benefits
• Promotes Border Security and Energy
• Reduces Federal Spending
And so much more.”
President Donald Trump celebrated the contentious bill through the House in a post to Truth Social writing,
“’THE ONE, BIG, BEAUTIFUL BILL’ has PASSED the House of Representatives! This is arguably the most significant piece of Legislation that will ever be signed in the History of our Country!
“The Bill includes MASSIVE Tax CUTS, No Tax on Tips, No Tax on Overtime, Tax Deductions when you purchase an American Made Vehicle, along with strong Border Security measures, Pay Raises for our ICE and Border Patrol Agents, Funding for the Golden Dome, ‘TRUMP Savings Accounts’ for newborn babies, and much more! “
The President offered praise for Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) and House Republican leaders saying, “Great job by Speaker Mike Johnson, and the House Leadership, and thank you to every Republican who voted YES on this Historic Bill! Now, it’s time for our friends in the United States Senate to get to work, and send this Bill to my desk AS SOON AS POSSIBLE! There is no time to waste.”
Trump concluded with an admonishment of Congressional Democrats saying, “The Democrats have lost control of themselves, and are aimlessly wandering around, showing no confidence, grit, or determination. They have forgotten their landslide loss in the Presidential Election, and are warped in the past, hoping someday to revive Open Borders for the World’s criminals to be able to pour into our Country, men to be able to play in women’s sports, and transgender for everybody. They don’t realize that these things, and so many more like them, will NEVER AGAIN happen!”
Looking forward toward the bill’s progress through the Senate, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said at Thursday morning’s press briefing, “We can celebrate this pass in the House for a couple of hours, but now it’s time for the Senate to get to work. The president has great relationship with … Senate Majority Leader [John] Thune, and of course, so many friends on the Senate side of the Hill. And he’s expecting them to get busy on this bill and send it to his desk as soon as possible.”
As reported by ABC News, Senate Majority Leader John Thune told reporters Wednesday that “there are things that we need to adjust or modify or change,” noting that Speaker Johnson “fully understands and accepts that.”
The bill may face serious challenges in the Senate where the current budget plan holds a trillion-dollar discrepancy with the House bill. Sen. Rand Paul explained, “[The] House bill is going to add about $4 trillion to the debt ceiling. The Senate bill adds $5 trillion. There’s nothing fiscally conservative about expanding the debt ceiling more than we’ve ever done it before. This will be the greatest increase in the debt ceiling ever, and the GOP owns this now … the deficit this year will be $2.2 trillion. The GOP owns that now too.”
Rep. David Schweikert was also skeptical about the Senate’s budget plan saying in an April 5th statement, “To say I’m disappointed with the Senate’s deeply unserious budget resolution would be an understatement. We are faced with an existential threat to both the short-term and long-term prosperity of America that requires a real solution, showing we are serious about slowing the growth of spending in the federal budget. With just $4 billion in cuts— equal to less than a single day’s worth of borrowing {about 20 hours}— the Senate budget resolution is more business as usual at a time when that’s exactly what we’re trying to avoid.”
Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) was more optimistic telling reporters, “A lot of it looks pretty good,” adding that the House bill is a “good start.”
Given the narrow majority in the Senate, Majority Leader Thune can only lose 3 votes to pass the bill.
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.
