Assigned to TRANS & APPROP                                                                                                       FOR COMMITTEE

 

 


 

ARIZONA STATE SENATE

Phoenix, Arizona

 

FACT SHEET FOR S.B. 1324

 

flight property tax; deposit

 

Purpose

 

Redirects 50 percent of flight property tax revenues from the general fund to the aviation fund.  This restores the deposit of 100 percent of flight property tax revenues to the aviation fund.

 

Background

 

Flight property tax (FPT) is a tax on airline property, which is considered class 7 for property taxation purposes.  According to statute, the FPT rate is the current year average of tax rates assessed against all other taxable property in this state.  Other taxes are prohibited upon the flight property of airline companies operating in Arizona.  While originally all FPT collections were deposited in the general fund, in following years a growing percentage of FPT collections were diverted to the aviation fund.  Beginning in 1989, all FPT revenues were deposited in the aviation fund.  The state aviation fund, administered by the Arizona Department of Transportation, is charged with providing for a grant source for eligible airports for the planning, development and construction of the aviation system in Arizona.

 

Pursuant to Laws 1997, First Special Session, Chapter 3, 50 percent of FPT collections were directed to the state general fund instead of the aviation fund.

 

S.B. 1324 repeals the 1997 enactment, consequently depositing all FPT revenue in the aviation fund.  According to the Joint Legislative Budget Committee, this measure reduces annual state general fund revenues by an estimated $7.2 million beginning FY 2000-2001.  There is a corresponding revenue increase projected for the aviation fund.

 

Provisions

 

1.      Restores the 100 percent deposit of flight property tax collections to the aviation fund by eliminating the requirement to deposit 50 percent of these monies to the state general fund.

 

2.      Provides for a general effective date.

 

 

Prepared by Senate Staff

January 24, 2000