Andrew Smigielski

Over the past month an ‘Arizona’s Job Growth Bill’ has been circulating around the internet and the State.  As written, the bill focuses on tax breaks for large corporations, offers little assistance to the small businesses in Arizona, and has a limited short term impact on creating jobs.  While creating a welcoming environment for all businesses should be a concern for every State Legislature, why not start with a jobs bill that has immediate impact and offers a return on taxpayer’s money?  For the past several years, Arizona Legislators and the Governor’s office have swept Highway User Revenue Funds (HURF) to fill general budget shortfalls.  The HURF is generated from taxes on each gallon of gas we purchase; monies that are supposed to be earmarked for infrastructure projects.  With over 10 million people expected in Arizona by 2020, we cannot afford to short change the infrastructure of Arizona.  Infrastructure that plays a critical role in moving people and goods. Infrastructure that can give Arizona an advantage in the southwest.  The projects that could be funded are varied, local and statewide, and will have an immediate impact on job creation, from planners and engineers who create/design the projects, to contractors who build the projects, and even suppliers who deliver/manufacture the materials. Jobs would not only be saved and created, but gas tax revenue would be spent where it is supposed to be allocated.  Arizonans would be given a hard return on our investment.  An investment that Arizona will need as we enter our next 100 years of Statehood.