Statewide property tax coming back?

Will the statewide property tax be coming back in 2009? If it is up to House Speaker Jim Weiers the answer is no. Speaker Weiers and Senator Jim Waring have introduced bills that would permanently repeal the state property tax which is scheduled to return in 2009. The tax was repealed for three years starting in 2006.

The return of the property tax would be highly unpopular, but would also allow the state to close the current budget deficit. While the Republicans want to take the property tax off the table, Governor Janet Napolitano is saying talk of a permanent repeal is premature. Napolitano said the first focus needs to be on the budget deficit.

Look for this to become a battle of the Republicans saying Governor Napolitano wants to raise your property taxes by $250million and the Democrats firing back about the irresponsibility of the Republican legislature.