Ducey says slashed regulations produce millions in Arizona tax cuts

PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey says Arizona job creators have gotten the equivalent of a $79-million tax cut, and that it hasn’t cost the general fund one dollar.

“Over the last two years alone in Arizona, we have eliminated 1,098 regulations,” Ducey told an audience at the launch of ASU’s “Doing Business North America” report.

It ranks ease of doing business in 115 cities across the continent.

“If you want to improve something, you’ve got to measure it,” Ducey (R-Ariz.) said. “If you don’t measure it, you can’t move it.”

Phoenix was tops in Arizona, but 20th on the list.

Ducey hopes Arizona’s recognition of out-of-state professional licenses will eventually boost the standing.

ASU senior Nico McCrossan helped craft the inaugural report. He wasn’t surprised by the rankings.

“But it was nice to be able to see some hard data that confirmed that,” McCrossan said.

Every year, McCrossan says the report will measure regulatory and tax climates, “So we can see what changes are being made in different cities across North America, to see what impacts those political decisions are having.”

The report also gauged the difficulties of small businesses to start up.

“To register you business, to register and transfer property, pay all of your different taxes to all the different regulatory bodies and agencies,” McCrossan explained.

Oklahoma City and Arlington, Virginia, topped ASU’s list of friendliest cities for small businesses.

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