May 19, 2010 / Modified may 19, 2010 11 a.m.

Voters Approve 1 Percent Sales Tax Hike

Arizona voters have approved Proposition 100, which will increase the state sales tax by 1 percent, to 6.5 cents per dollar, for three years, effective June 1.

Arizona voters Tuesday approved Proposition 100, which will increase the state sales tax by 1 percent, to 6.5 cents per dollar, for three years, effective June 1.

With 64 percent of voters casting ballots in favor of the measure, the Arizona Education Network says it has hope for the State of Arizona and education. Group President Ann-Eve Pedersen is relieved voters gave the thumbs up to the tax increase, two-thirds of which will go toward education. "They sent the legislature a strong message that Arizonans support our public schools. We support our universities. We support public safety," she says.

Meanwhile, Tom Jenney, Arizona Director of Americans for Prosperity opposed the sales tax hike and says approval of the proposition is not a panacea for the state’s overall financial problems. "We still need a lot of reforms. We still need a firm spending limit, so that we never get into this mess again," he says.

The tax increase is expected to raise an estimated $918 million the first year. Defeat of Proposition 100 would have triggered $862 million of budget cuts for schools and other programs.

View election results by county

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