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Arizona Arizona has a Constitutional Amendment from 1978 that limits appropriations to 7.23% of personal income. Article IX, Section 17 - ECONOMIC ESTIMATES COMMISSION; APPROPRIATION LIMITATION; POWERS AND DUTIES OF COMMISSION Section 17. (1) The economic estimates commission shall be established by law, with a membership of not to exceed three members, and shall determine and publish prior to February 1 of each year the estimated total personal income for the following fiscal year. By April 1 of each year the commission shall determine and publish a final estimate of the total personal income for the following fiscal year, which estimate shall be used in computing the appropriations limit for the legislature. For the purposes of this section, "total personal income" means the dollar amount that will be reported as total income by persons for the state of Arizona by the U. S. department of commerce or its successor agency. (2) For purposes of this section, "state revenues": (a) Include all monies, revenues, fees, fines, penalties, funds, tuitions, property and receipts of any kind whatsoever received by or for the account of the state or any of its agencies, departments, offices, boards, commissions, authorities, councils and institutions except as provided in this subsection. (b) Do not include: (i) Any amounts or property received from the issuance or incurrence of bonds or other lawful long-term obligations issued or incurred for a specific purpose. For the purpose of this subdivision long-term obligations shall not include warrants issued in the ordinary course of operation or registered for payment by the state. (ii) Any amounts or property received as payment of dividends or interest. (iii) Any amounts or property received by the state in the capacity of trustee, custodian or agent. (iv) Any amounts received from employers for deposit in the unemployment compensation fund or any successor fund. (v) Any amounts collected by the state for distribution to counties, cities and towns without specific restrictions on the use of the funds other than the restrictions included in section 14 of this article. (vi) Any amounts received as grants, aid, contributions or gifts of any type, except voluntary contributions or other contributions received directly or indirectly in lieu of taxes. (vii) Any amounts received as the proceeds from the sale, lease or redemption of property or as consideration for services or the use of property. (viii) Any amounts received pursuant to a transfer during a fiscal year from another agency, department, office, board, commission, authority, council or institution of the state which were included as state revenues for such fiscal year or which are excluded from state revenue under other provisions of this subsection. (ix) Any amounts attributable to an increase in the rates of tax subsequent to July 1, 1979 on vehicle users, gasoline and diesel fuel which were levied on July 1, 1979. (x) Any amounts received during a fiscal year as refunds, reimbursements or other recoveries of amounts appropriated which were applied against the appropriation limitation for such fiscal year or which were excluded from state revenues under other provisions of this subsection. (3) The legislature shall not appropriate for any fiscal year state revenues in excess of seven per cent of the total personal income of the state for that fiscal year as determined by the economic estimates commission. The limitation may be exceeded upon affirmative vote of two-thirds of the membership of each house of the legislature on each measure that appropriates amounts in excess of the limitation. If the legislature authorizes a specific dollar amount of appropriation for more than one fiscal year, for the purpose of measuring such appropriation against the appropriation limitation, the entire amount appropriated shall be applied against the limitation in the first fiscal year during which any expenditures are authorized, and in no other fiscal year. (4) In order to permit the transference of governmental functions or funding responsibilities between the federal and state governments and between the state government and its political subdivisions without abridging the purpose of this section to limit state appropriations to a percentage of total personal income, the legislature shall provide for adjustments of the appropriation percentage limitation consistent with the following principles: (a) If the federal government assumes all or any part of the cost of providing a governmental function which the state previously funded in whole or in part, the appropriation limitation shall be commensurately decreased. (b) If the federal government requires the state to assume all or any part of the cost of providing a governmental function the appropriation limitation shall be commensurately increased. (c) If the state assumes all or any part of the cost of providing a governmental function and the state requires the political subdivision, which previously funded all or any part of the cost of the function to commensurately decrease its tax revenues, the appropriation percentage limitation shall be commensurately increased. (d) If a political subdivision assumes all or any part of the cost of providing a governmental function previously funded in whole or in part by the state, the appropriation percentage limitation shall be commensurately decreased. Any adjustments made pursuant to this subsection shall be made for the first fiscal year of the assumption of the cost. Such adjustment shall remain in effect for each subsequent fiscal year. -- THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA Arizona has a Constitutional Amendment from 1992 that requires a 2/3 voteof the Legislature to increase state revenues. Article IX, Section 22 - VOTE REQUIRED TO INCREASE STATE REVENUES; APPLICATION; EXCEPTIONS Section (A) An act that provides for a net increase in state revenues, as described in subsection B is effective on the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of each house of the legislature. If the act receives such an affirmative vote, it becomes effective immediately on the signature of the governor as provided by Article IV, Part 1, Section 1. If the governor vetoes the measure, it shall not become effective unless it is approved by an affirmative vote of three-fourths of the members of each house of the legislature. (B) The requirements of this section apply to any act that provides for a net increase in state revenues in the form of: 1. The imposition of any new tax. 2. An increase in a tax rate or rates. 3. A reduction or elimination of a tax deduction, exemption, exclusion, credit or other tax exemption feature in computing tax liability. 4. An increase in a statutorily prescribed state fee or assessment or an increase in a statutorily prescribed maximum limit for an administratively set fee. 5. The imposition of any new state fee or assessment or the authorization of any new administratively set fee. 6. The elimination of an exemption from a statutorily prescribed state fee or assessment. 7. A change in the allocation among the state, counties or cities of Arizona transaction privilege, severance, jet fuel and use, rental occupancy, or other taxes. 8. Any combination of the elements described in paragraphs 1 through 7. (C) This section does not apply to: 1. The effects of inflation, increasing assessed valuation or any other similar effect that increases state revenue but is not caused by an affirmative act of the legislature. 2. Fees and assessments that are authorized by statute, but are not prescribed by formula, amount or limit, and are set by a state officer or agency. 3. Taxes, fees or assessments that are imposed by counties, cities, towns and other political subdivisions of this state. (D) Each act to which this section applies shall include a separate provision describing the requirements for enactment prescribed by this section. -- THE CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF ARIZONA Arizona’s Constitution limits the state’s Governor to two
consecutive terms. A person can run for that office again after sitting out one
term. Arizona’s Constitution limits the terms of members of the
State Legislature to four consecutive two-year terms. Created by: Jennifer L. Crull Return to Public Interest Institute's Limitations on Government by States Homepage Return to Public Interest Institute's Limitations on Government by Issues Homepage |
