http://www.nfib.com/Keep up with the latest news, politics and events for small business in Arizona.en-usEM3 iOnwebmaster@nfib.orghttp://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37142.htmlNFIB is pleased to offer you breakfast with Congressman Mitchell to discuss federal legislation impacting small business, such as employer compliance for immigration reform and capital gains taxes. Join us May 29 in Scottsdale.Mon, 12 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_31525.htmlThe fiscal year 2008 budget began July 1, 2007. With a projected $1 billion deficit for the FY 2008, lawmakers will reassess the FY 2008 budget during the 2008 legislative session.Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35827.htmlThe fiscal year 2009 budget begins July 1, 2008. The state Legislature is required to pass a budget by the start of the new fiscal year.Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36862.htmlCurrent law provides for the Government Property Lease Excise Tax (GPLET), often pronounced "giblet" around the state Capitol. GPLETs were established 12 years ago for the purpose of providing local governments with a tool to lure bigger, job-creating companies to their areas by abating property taxes in redevelopment deals. Cities take title to the land and building and then lease it back to a private company for a nominal fee. Instead of paying a property tax, these businesses pay an in-lieu-of tax (GPLET), which is often one-tenth of what they would normally pay if they had to pay property taxes. This in-lieu-of tax will kick in after a business has exhausted its eight years of not paying taxes.Fri, 09 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_37078.htmlIn 2007, Arizona passed the toughest immigration law in the country. The law became effective Jan. 1, 2008. On May 1, the governor signed HB 2745, making changes to the Legal Arizona Workers Act of 2007. Fri, 02 May 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36962.htmlHealthcare, taxes and minimum wage issues are debated and discussed in state legislatures on a regular basis. But there is another issue that is gaining ground on the scale of importance to small business owners around the country: immigration.Wed, 23 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35850.htmlIn 2006, lawmakers approved a moratorium on the state equalization assistance property tax rate, providing some tax relief for home and commercial property owners. For tax years 2006 through 2008, the state equalization assistance property tax rate is set at zero. Beginning in 2009, the rate returns and is calculated based on the truth in taxation adjusted rate from the 2005 tax year.Fri, 18 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36911.htmlThe National Federation of Independent Business Small Business Legal Center, the legal voice for America's leading small business group, filed a friend-of-the court brief with the 9th Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals urging the court to strike down Arizona's new immigration law as unconstitutional. Tue, 15 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36882.html"It is important to remember that notwithstanding the rate relief and reforms passed in 2006, property taxpayers are still seeing increases in their taxes as a result of valuation growth. Allowing the state equalization rate to return next year will not only load higher taxes onto struggling homeowners and businesses, it will erode confidence that state policymakers can adequately manage the state's property tax system."Fri, 11 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36253.htmlHealthcare costs are skyrocketing, making it more and more difficult for small employers and employees to obtain affordable health insurance and care. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36774.htmlOn April 2, 2008, Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Miles ruled that the $97.4 million taxpayer subsidy for the upscale CityNorth shopping mall in Phoenix is constitutional. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36816.htmlSmall businesses in Phoenix were disappointed by a decision issued yesterday by Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Robert Miles finding that the city's tax-subsidy practice that provides millions of tax-payer dollars to one out-of-state developer is constitutional. Thu, 03 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36734.htmlSmall businesses be damned, homeowners should pay more, and basic governmental services can jolly well suffer. These simultaneous messages emerged from a House Ways and Means vote Monday on Senate Bill 1260, which garnered only three votes in favor of it. Five members voted against passage and two were absent.Tue, 01 Apr 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36601.htmlRead the April/May 2008 Arizona MyVOICE for details on small business issues such as health care, property taxes and the state budget.Fri, 28 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36254.htmlFor more than 20 years, the cost and availability of healthcare has remained the No. 1 problem for small business. On a national average, less than half of small business with less than 100 employees offers healthcare, as opposed to 98 percent of big businesses that do, according to studies by the Kaiser Family Foundation.Thu, 20 Mar 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36424.htmlThe representative group for Arizona's small business owners has blasted a committee of the Arizona Senate for effectively killing a legislative proposal that would have shown the impact of health benefit mandates. Mandates are legal requirements placed on health insurance policies by government to cover this procedure or that. Fri, 29 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36154.htmlIncreased losses experienced by Arizona employers, rising medical costs for treatment of industrial injuries and a decade-long lag in a benefit increase to injured workers have resulted in hikes in workers' compensation rates.Wed, 06 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36155.htmlMon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36156.htmlMon, 04 Feb 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36020.htmlRead the February/March 2008 Arizona MyVOICE for details on small-business issues such as immigration, a drug-free workplace and activism.Thu, 31 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36027.htmlWed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_36033.html"Small businesses are the drivers of our state's economy, accounting for more than 97 percent of all employers in Arizona. Small business also creates about two-thirds of all net new jobs. It's vital that we have a thriving small-business community for our state and the nation to continue to grow and prosper."Wed, 30 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35952.htmlArizona is in the midst of a giant property-tax crisis, and it needs to act immediately if it is to avoid a California-style Prop. 13 revolt.Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35953.htmlBeginning Jan. 1, 2008, the Arizona minimum wage is $6.90 per hour. The hourly wage is up 15 cents from the 2007 hourly rate.Mon, 28 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35892.htmlWed, 23 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35849.htmlOn Jan. 16, the Senate Financed Committee approved SB1002, a measure which would make permanent a state property tax cut that was first passed during the 2006 legislative session. The vote was 5-3. Should no further action be taken on this issue, the tax cut will expire in 2009. Thu, 17 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35775.htmlA poll of Arizona small-business owners taken by their biggest representative group and released today showed entrepreneurs holding fast against being legally forced to provide health care for their employees.Wed, 09 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35751.htmlGet ready to send in your nominations for the "2008 Solveras-NFIB Small-Business Champion" award!</br></br><br>The Solveras-NFIB Small-Business Champion Award recognizes entrepreneurial success and the 'giving back' philosophy that many successful entrepreneurs have demonstrated -- both in support of their local communities and organizations like NFIB.Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35762.htmlShould a city be allowed to offer tax subsidies to a single developer while passing the costs of the tax rebate onto local constituents, small businesses and their patrons? The National Federation of Independent Business Legal Foundation thinks not and is joining an Arizona lawsuit to protect small employers from this unfair practice.Tue, 08 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST http://www.nfib.com/object/IO_35727.htmlMon, 07 Jan 2008 00:00:00 PST