FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, March 3, 2025
Senate Republicans Advance Legislation to Provide Pay Raises,
Continued Resources for State Public Safety Personnel
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— Senate Republicans are advancing legislation to support Arizona's men and women in public safety with pay raises and continued resources at the Arizona Department of Corrections. Last week, two important bills passed the Senate and are now awaiting consideration at the House.
SB 1144, sponsored by Senate Public Safety Committee Chairman Kevin Payne, allows Maricopa County to ask voters to extend the jail excise tax for up to 20 years. This one-fifth of one cent sales tax has been in place for three decades and provides funding to operate the adult jails, as well as the juvenile detention facilities. The revenues also pay for the maintenance and renovations of these buildings.
"Providing our men and women in law enforcement with the resources they need to keep our communities safe is a top priority of mine," said Chairman Payne. "The revenue received from the jail excise tax is crucial for public safety officers within the Arizona Department of Corrections (DOC), so they can keep our communities safe from criminals who are paying their debts to society. Without this revenue source continuing, Arizona runs the risk of allowing these criminals to be released back into our communities."
SB 1010, also sponsored by Chairman Payne, provides 20% pay raises for correctional officers and 10% pay raises for all other staff at the DOC through a $103.3 million appropriation from the state general fund.
"Funding public safety is a top responsibility of government. The men and women who support the Department of Corrections are some of the lowest paid public safety officers in the state. I want to ensure these men and women are compensated appropriately for their hard work," said Chairman Payne. "Once SB 1010 passes the full Legislature, it will then be considered within the bigger picture of our state budget. Depending on what other funding priorities are presented, the actual raise percentage for these DOC employees may fluctuate up or down. I do know this is a priority for Republicans, Democrats, and the Governor, so I’m optimistic we can come to a consensus."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
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