Government Affairs – 2007 Legislative Priorities

Your Chamber at Work for You

Development Fee Opposition Statement  PDF*

In June 2007, the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors sent to the Flagstaff City Council its opposition letter to proposed Development Fees, also known as "Impact Fees." Please click on the PDF link* to view the entire letter.

Advocacy Agenda 2007  PDF*

The Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors in January 2007 adopted the first Business Advocacy Agenda.  This policy document outlines the Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce’s policy positions on a host of issues before government.  The Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce is the leading advocate for business in northern Arizona. 

Please visit our list of current legislative priorities and speak your voice for business through our special advocacy website www.actforflagstaff.com.

2007 Legislative Priorities

The Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Division works closely with the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and other local chambers throughout Arizona to be a voice for business before our state and federal governments. 

Below is a list of our legislative priorities and links to more information about each piece of legislation.  To voice your position on behalf of business to our elected officials, please visit:
www.actforflagstaff.com

FLAGSTAFF AREA STATE ELECTED OFFICIALS
LINK: (2007 Business Advocacy Agenda PDF pg 16)

Issues with pending legislation currently before the 2007 Session of the Arizona Legislature:

Employer Sanctions – WE OPPOSE
Read the Arizona Chamber’s Policy Brief on Employer Sanctions
www.azchamber.com/pdfs/2007_feb_policy-brief.pdf

HB 2779
www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=hb2779     
HCR 2051
www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HCR2051

Business Tax Bills – WE SUPPORT
SB 1027 and HB 2401 – State Equalization Rate Permanent Repeal
www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=hb2401

SB 1028 and HB 2400 – Business Property Tax Reduction Acceleration
www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=HB2400

FACT SHEET ON HB 2401
www.azchamber.com/pdfs/2007_0216_State_Equalization_Assistance_Rate.pdf

POLICY BRIEF ON HB 2400
www.azchamber.com/pdfs/2007_PB_Property_Tax.pdf

HB 2615 - Research and Development Tax Credit
www.azleg.gov/DocumentsForBill.asp?Bill_Number=hb2615

POLICY BRIEF ON HB 2615
www.azchamber.com/pdfs/policy_brief_RD-tax-credit.pdf   

Worker’s Compensation
Other issues with potential legislative action

Transportation – TIME COALTION
The Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce is working with the T.I.M.E. Coaltion in order to improve our statewide transportation system and accelerate freeway construction throughout Arizona. 

Principles of Statewide Coalition

• Our coalition is made up of organizations and individuals joined to promote and advocate for the continued improvement and coordination of the transportation priorities for every city, town, Native American community, and county throughout the State of Arizona.

• The Coalition believes that a quality transportation system drives commerce and is essential for the economic future of our state.  Congestion hurts economic growth and impacts our quality of life.

• The Coalition believes that future transportation planning must accomplish the following:
• Preserve new corridors that promote connectivity
• Expand capacity to reduce congestion
• Integrate use of multimodal transportation solutions
• Equally consider privatization options that will expand capacity, expedite construction, and potentially lower costs
• Consider opportunities to increase our ability to transport goods and services
• Build a better quality of life
• Improve our environment
• Proactively support right of way preservation and access control

Goals of Statewide Coalition

• Identify funding options to address the long-term needs of a statewide multimodal transportation system.

• Establish a process and timeline involving the Legislature, Executive leadership, ADOT, Councils of Governments, Metropolitan Planning organizations, Native American communities, and the Business community. This process and timeline should be approved by the Legislature to develop a statewide transportation plan by May 31, 2007.

• The process would return a statewide transportation plan to the Legislature by December 31, 2007 for approval.

• Place the comprehensive statewide transportation plan on the ballot for General Election 2008 or as soon as practically possible.

• In addition to the long-term transportation strategy, the committee targets to secure $500 million in immediate funding to pay for a portion of the most urgent statewide transportation needs.

Economic Development
2007 Business Advocacy Agenda, pgs 5, 6   PDF
Technology
2007 Business Advocacy Agenda, pg 6   PDF
Taxation and Tax Relief
2007 Business Advocacy Agenda, pgs 6, 7    PDF
Housing
2007 Business Advocacy Agenda, pgs 7, 8    PDF
Education
2007 Business Advocacy Agenda, pgs 8, 9    PDF
Health Care
2007 Business Advocacy Agenda, pgs 9, 10    PDF

top  

Flagstaff Chamber of Commerce || 101 W. Route 66 || Flagstaff, AZ 86001
(928) 774-4505 || Fax: (928) 779-1209