Rating:

0.0 (0 votes)

TUCSON - House and Senate committees will hold hearings on the budget Tuesday, and a vote could come as early as Wednesday.

Officials say the entire budget relies on the temporary one cent sales tax increase passing. We wanted to get a feel from the public to see if they will put it through.

"We're in a heck of a bind and if we don't pass it then we won't have public education and that's not acceptable," said Tucson resident Andrew Wolf.

Public education is just one department facing major cuts if the sales tax does not pass. Governor Brewer says it could increase revenue by more than one billion dollars. Senator Linda Lopez says it still will not be enough.

"Alcohol tax hasn't been raised in about 35 years. I think most people in the state would agree that 35 years later, it's time to do that," said Lopez.

Some taxpayers say they already pay enough.

"It's already bad as it is, so I don't think it should go any higher...not even by a cent," said resident Letycia Mendoza.

There is also a fear the temporary tax will become permanent

"We never seem to cut it back and say okay, we met the funds. That's it," said resident Frank Vargas.

House Representative Vic Williams says it is an absolute must, and others agree.

"If we don't get the $1.2 billion dollars from the sales tax referendum, you're going to see what type of cuts we're going to have to make. It's going to devastate education," Williams said Monday.

"We need it. We don't have money in this state. If we don't raise the sales tax, how are we going to fund the services that we need," said resident Allison Bradford.

Governor Brewer released this statement Monday night:

"I have been asked by Arizona news media to respond to a recent statement by Senators McCain and Kyl regarding the appropriate solutions to balance Arizona's state budget.

"Never before in my 28 years as an elected official have I supported a tax increase. And although it is not a budget deficit I created, I am firm in my determination and responsibility to resolve it.

"The Arizona Legislature and I have already adopted the largest permanent spending reductions in state history - well over $2 billion permanently reduced, out of what was once a $10 billion annual budget, with the adoption of this year's plan. Cutting another $1 billion from our children's classrooms, or from law enforcement and first responders, is no solution. The consequences are far too severe. Nor is borrowing billions more, and saddling our children and our children's children with the payments.

"Arizona's massive budget deficit demands responsible solutions from its elected leaders. That is why I have advocated the opportunity on May 18th for Arizona voters to support my efforts on behalf of our children's education and for the safety of our families, and to support a constitutionally-guaranteed temporary increase of 1 cent per dollar on the state sales tax. Doing the right thing often means doing the hard thing, but our children and their future deserve no less."

The budget will have a contingency plan depending on the outcome of the sales tax election to be held on May 18th.