Arizona Supreme Court reinstates massive income tax cuts

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that the state’s voters do not have the right to reject a massive income tax cut approved by the Republican-controlled legislature and Governor Ducey last year.

This decision means a tax cut is in effect that will hit nearly $2 billion when it is fully in place and mainly benefits the wealthy.

Ultimately, the high court overturned a lower court judge who ruled in favor of education advocates who collected enough signatures under the state’s referendum law to block them from taking effect until voters could weigh in in November.

According to the legislature’s budget analysis, the average Arizonan will save $231 a year in state income taxes, while taxpayers earning between $500,000 and $1 million a year will save more than $12,000.

"This ruling is another big win for our state’s taxpayers and comes at the right time," said Governor Ducey. "With inflation hitting Arizonans hard, this decision ultimately means more of their hard-earned dollars can stay in their wallets."

But opponents believe this strips the rights of everyday Arizonans, in an attempt to protect the rich.

“A true Democracy should have no problem allowing this to go before the voters of Arizona,” Senator Rebecca Rios said in a statement. “Republicans continue to attack our schools, teachers and students, despite a majority of Arizonans making it clear time and time again that they want meaningful investments in our public schools.”