AG Brnovich Applauds AZ Supreme Court Decision over ABOR’s Real Estate Deals

PHOENIX – Attorney General Mark Brnovich applauds the Arizona Supreme Court for reviving his lawsuit against the Arizona Board of Regents (ABOR). It was related to a real estate deal that General Brnovich contends will cause unlawful expense to taxpayers. The lawsuit is specifically challenging a deal between Arizona State University and a hotel developer.

“From the very beginning, we said this lawsuit is about protecting hardworking Arizonans by ensuring that taxpayer funds are not used for private business deals,” said Attorney General Mark Brnovich. 

The Attorney General’s Office (AGO) filed its lawsuit in January 2019, challenging ABOR’S practice of using its tax-exempt status for private businesses.
 
The AGO alleges that ABOR, which is the legal entity that includes the state’s three public universities, lacks the statutory authority to grant tax exemptions to private businesses and development projects such as the hotel deal located at the southeast corner of University and Mill. 
 
The lawsuit raises serious issues about the use of public monies and tax-exempt status to benefit certain developers to the detriment of competitors and taxpayers. The Supreme Court’s decision allows this important case to move forward.

Copy of opinion.