Arizona tax department puts layoff plan on hold

PHOENIX (AP) — The state tax collection agency is shelving its tentative plan to lay off more than half its staff this month.

The Department of Revenue said a month ago that it would probably have to lay off 450 of its 710 workers in November. That's because Gov. Jan Brewer vetoed some of the department's funding to kill an unrelated provision.

The alternative was to operate with current staffing through January and then shut down in February if there's no additional funding by then.

But spokesman Anthony Forschino said Monday the department is "going forward hopeful there is going to be some resolution."

Forschino says the department's vetoed funding shift isn't considered controversial. He says it appears lawmakers will re-approve that legislation.