State Fiscal Challenges: Detailed Summary

The Governing Arizona Project provides an excellent opportunity to develop an approach to confronting these issues in one of the nation’s fastest growing states with objective economic analysis engaging leaders of both political parties. This project focuses on the Arizona fiscal and tax system and will provide leaders in all sectors and the public with objective analysis on how state can best confront the critical issues and needs of the state in these difficult economic times.

The project involves scholars and top researech institutions in Arizona and from throughout the nation. It will also provide a context of Arizona's problems with other states and the nation.

Governing Arizona has engaged most of the leading organizations in Arizona including leaders in the legislature, the offices of the Governor and other executive branch leadership, plus representatives of local government, business, and the media.(Partners)

Governing Arizona provides solid analysis of Arizona’s fiscal condition for leaders in the public and private sectors, and puts it in context with the situations in other states and the nation. GA educates a larger public through a variety of allied organizations serving state and individual communities. Enlisting the active involvement of the news media expands the educational outreach beyond public officials themselves.
Governing Arizona will also conduct programs to educate a larger public through a variety of allied organizations serving the state and individual communities. Enlisting the active involvement of the news media will aid in the educational outreach beyond public officials themselves. The project will include research, forums, conferences and on-line resources.

The project includes objective assessments of the spending and services provided by governments at the state and local levels, and the operation of the current tax system, primarily using previously-published previous research. Both the research and the programs will review alternative methods of financing including a business oriented “Return-On-Investment” (ROI) strategy where new revenue (taxes or fees) paid by the public are tied directly to benefits. The goal of the project is not to present a partisan point of view but to provide an educational service that would better serve the interests of Arizona’s citizens.

For more on Governing Arizona, please visit www.governingarizona.org

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