Proposition 204: Should the state permanently raise its sales tax?

September 19, 2012

If it's approved by voters in November, Proposition 204 would make permanent a one-cent sales tax increase approved by voters in May of 2010.

That increase was passed enthusiastically, and the campaign was led by Governor Jan Brewer. Prop 204 comes with more conflict, in part because it would take money provided by the initiative out of the hands of state lawmakers. Opponents also say the state can't afford to keep relying on higher sales tax revenue. Supporters say the state has underfunded education, and dollars from the proposition would help remedy that, which would also lead to more businesses wanting to move to Arizona.

Ann-Eve Pedersen, Chair of the Quality Education and Jobs Act, and Marty Shultz, Senior Policy Director of Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck, debate the pros and cons of the proposition.