Entries Tagged as 'Arizona - Show Me the Money'

AZ Horse and Greyhound Racing Tax Breaks Could Hurt Bets

We ran across this article that appeared in the AZ Daily Star in June 2007.

The article says that since the horse and greyhound racing get such heavy tax breaks, the Department of AZ Racing is not funded enough to do their job and protect the people who bet on the horses and greyhounds.  (Pssst: You’re not funded enough to protect the greyhounds either.)

Is the state’s priorities screwed or what?

Arizona is facing a huge budget crisis and the Department of Racing is worried about how people who gamble on the horses and dogs can be hurt.

We guess what galls us the most is that horse racing and greyhound racing even gets tax breaks.

Mr. and Ms. Business Owner — do you get a hardship tax break?

The article further goes on to say, “Overall, Gonsher said, the tax credits and exemptions during the last six years have totaled $44 million.

 The result is that only one of four Arizona horse and dog tracks — Turf Paradise — has paid any racing taxes for several years.”

What could Arizona do with $44 million?  That’s only in the past six years.

Horse racing and greyhound racing has not paid taxes since 1995. That’s 12 years and counting…

Arizona Greyhound Racing Not Paid State Taxes Since 1995

Show me the money! Arizona has a huge budget deficit. Maybe because we’re a border state but maybe because the AZ greyhound racing industry and horse racing industry has not paid state pari-mutuel taxes since 1995. Damn! We are tax payers, why not these businesses? Greyhound racing is not a non-profit organization nor is it a church.

Help! Do our politicians have their heads in the sand?

Arizona is facing a huge budget crunch and you can read the audit report here as to why and how the Arizona greyhound racing industry gets away with not paying state pari-mutuel taxes.

If you pay taxes in Arizona, you should be raging mad right about now! Time to protest by sending letters to the Honorable Janet Napolitano and your relected officials.