Source: https://www.azag.gov/sgo-opinions/I01-015
Timestamp: 2015-07-01 21:48:25
Document Index: 355567469

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 17', '§ 17', '§ 1', '§ 17', '§ 6', '§ 21']

A comparison of the community college provision with the state expenditure limitation is also instructive. Article IX, § 17 provides that the Legislature cannot appropriate for any fiscal year state revenues in excess of seven per cent of the total personal income of the State for that fiscal year. As originally adopted in 1978, § 17 stated that "[f]or purposes of this section, 'state tax revenues' shall be defined by law." Laws 1978, S.Con.Res. No. 1002, § 1. This Office concluded this language "delegates to the Legislature the authority to define 'State tax revenue' for purposes of the [state expenditure] limitation." Ariz. Att’y Gen. Op. I78-283. In 1980, at the same special election at which voters approved the expenditure limitation for community colleges, § 17 was amended to specifically define "state revenues" and delete the Legislature’s authority to define the term. Laws 1980, 2nd Spec.Sess., S.Con.Res. 1001, § 6. In contrast, § 21 gave the Legislature express authority to permit community college districts to exceed the expenditure limit. The differences between the various expenditure limits show that the drafters knew how to restrict the Legislature’s power but chose to give the Legislature discretion to make exceptions affecting the expenditure limits for community college districts.