Tag: Arizona Common Sense Institute

Arizona to Give Property Tax Refunds for Homeless-Related Nuisance Costs

The Center Square
Homeless

Arizonans have passed a law that would allow both commercial and residential property owners to be eligible for a tax refund if they can provide proof that the city failed to enforce public nuisance laws affecting their property.

At 90% of precincts participating, 58.6% of voters approved Prop. 312. This proposition has received a national audience as one of the laws encouraging law enforcement to criminalize homelessness put forth following the 2023 ruling by SCOTUS striking down protections for homeless individuals.

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Prop. 312 Would Give Tax Refunds to Property Owners Hit with Homeless Costs

The Center Square
Homeless Person

Arizona voters will have the opportunity to decide if property owners should be allowed to receive a property tax refund to cover “reasonable” costs accrued by unmitigated public nuisances related to homelessness, vandalism, property crime and drug use.

The property owner – either commercial or residential – would need to document the expense and be able to prove that it was a direct result of the government failing to enforce relevant public nuisance laws.

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Report: A Tipped Workers Minimum Wage Credit May Actually Help Arizonans

The Center Square
Waiter

A new report put out by the Arizona Common Sense Institute has found that allowing employers to pay tipped workers 25% less than the state minimum wage could actually help secure jobs for employees in the restaurant and service industries.

The report is an analysis of Proposition 138, an amendment that would allow for tipped workers to be paid 25% less per hour than the minimum wage if any tips received by the employee were not less than the minimum wage plus $2 for all hours worked. Arizona voters will decide the measure’s fate in the upcoming general election.

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