Head of Arizona GOP to rally for school sales tax hike

The Arizona Republican Party’s leader wants lawmakers to back a proposal raising the state sales tax to provide additional funding for schools.

State GOP Chair Kelli Ward plans a news conference Wednesday with several Republican lawmakers to boost support for the stalled plan in the Legislature. The proposal to boost the current school sales tax from 6/10 of a cent to a penny per dollar would go on the 2020 ballot.

If voters approve, school sales tax revenue would increase from about $670 million a year to more than $1.1 billion. The state’s K-12 schools would get 75% of the money, universities 20% and community colleges 5%.

School advocates put an income tax increase on high-earners on last year’s ballot but it was blocked by the state Supreme Court.