Arizona Supreme Court says voters can’t repeal tax cuts

(KYMA, KECY/ AP News) - The Arizona Supreme Court has ruled that tax cuts or increases enacted by the legislature can never be blocked by opponents using the state constitution’s referendum power.

And that comes with the rare exception of a tax that funds a completely new state department.

The written opinion released over the weekend explains the reasoning behind the court’s April 21st decision - reinstating a massive income tax cut enacted by the Republican-controlled legislature last year and signed by Governor Doug Ducey.

The court then reversed a lower court decision that said the tax cuts could be referred to the ballot because they did not appropriate money.

Arizona’s constitution lets voters block newly enacted laws by collecting signatures from 5% of qualified voters, but it exempts measures necessary for immediate health and safety and those that appropriate money for government operations.