PHOENIX, ARIZONA – As the Arizona Legislature works to pass a budget for the fiscal year beginning July 1^st, the Professional Fire Fighters of Arizona urges lawmakers to proceed with caution, especially when it comes to adequately funding public safety for the year ahead. Bryan Jeffries, President of the PFFA, cautioned that an overreliance on one-time federal funds flowing to the state – coupled with overzealous tax cuts – could put municipal-level funding for fire fighters, police, paramedics and public safety at risk in the future.

“I can’t emphasize enough how squeezed public safety has been across Arizona as we work the frontlines of the pandemic and wrestle with funding issues in many cities and towns,” said Jeffries. “Now is not the time to be reckless when it comes to the state budget, the revenues our municipalities rely on and keeping our communities safe.”

Jeffries pointed to a June 5, 2021 memorandum issued by Rounds Consulting Group as a source of responsible ideas for the upcoming budget. The Rounds analysis suggests that state revenue figures may be inflated by the massive influx of federal dollars flowing to Arizona to combat the COVID-19 pandemic. To account for the one-time nature of these federal funds, Rounds suggests that any tax cut passed by the Legislature need not “be based on permanent changes to the tax rates. A portion can be one-time taxpayer rebates.”

Jeffries urged lawmakers not to drastically overhaul the state tax code, slashing revenues to cities, towns, counties and public safety agencies, based on federal largess in response to the pandemic.

“To the extent our state has a revenue surplus, yes, some of that savings can and should be passed along to individuals and businesses – but it should also be used to pay down the debt our state has accrued,” said Jeffries. “Given the unpredictable nature of 2021 and the months ahead, taking a conservative approach makes sense – especially because the federal government’s increased funding could dry up at any time.”

Like Rounds, Jeffries expressed concern about the $930 million education debt known as the K-12 rollover, the $422 million the state owes on the leaseback of its office buildings and the $2.8 billion in pension debt held by the Public Safety Personnel Retirement System.

“Paying off debt now saves money for future budgets,” said Jeffries. “That’s the conservative approach here and it will ensure we have a budget that does everything it can to support keeping the public safe.”

Phoenix among JLL-represented WeWork markets

PHOENIX, ARIZONA — WeWork has selected JLL as leasing agent for 38 locations in seven cities nationally, including its locations in metro Phoenix. In this role, JLL will act as an extension of WeWork’s in-house sales team, providing agency leasing for small occupiers as well as enterprise companies seeking creative and flexible solutions.

In addition to Phoenix, JLL will market and lease co-working and flexible space in New York City, Boston, Atlanta, Dallas, Denver and San Francisco. JLL Managing Director Ryan Timpani and Senior Associate Nick Bialkowski from the Phoenix office of JLL will lead the assignment locally.

The availability of office space and sublease space has increased significantly during the past year. However, flex space has become increasingly attractive as it provides a wide array of additional options and flexibility to companies that may need to pivot as conditions change. Now more than ever, businesses are hoping to adjust quickly to the “new normal” and WeWork can provide a turnkey solution that businesses of all sizes can scale as necessary, as their workforce evolves.

“We are excited to work alongside JLL during this time of rapid change in the office environment,” said Shyam Gidumal, president and chief operating officer of WeWork. “JLL’s deep industry knowledge, experience, and relationships will enable us to connect with the expanding range of small to large enterprise tenants who can benefit from WeWork’s portfolio of flexible space offerings.”

“Phoenix is experiencing an influx of new market requirements – a scenario in which the availability of high-quality, turnkey flexible office space is critical,” said Timpani. “WeWork spaces give companies a way to quickly plant a flag here, immerse themselves in the local market and gather the labor and submarket familiarity they need to put strategies for long-term local growth into action.”

JLL is a market leader in Phoenix, employing more than 646 of the region’s most recognized industry experts offering office, industrial, retail, healthcare and data center brokerage, tenant representation, facility and investment management, capital markets, multifamily investments and development services, and related services within the real estate leasing, investment and management process. In 2020, the Phoenix team completed 75 million square feet in lease and sale transactions valued at $2.2 billion, directed $186 million in project management and currently manages a 54.2 million-square-foot portfolio.