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After furloughs, states mull permanent cuts
Moving from furloughs of state employees to more permanent downsizing, states are girding for the deepest workforce cuts yet when they hammer out their fiscal 2011 budgets next year. In preparation, many are taking stock of every position in state government to determine what effect job cuts and the possible elimination of whole departments will have on revenues, expenses and the quality of govern[...]
October marks 15th straight month of revenue declines
State tax collections continued their downward slide in October, with revenues for the month coming in more than $140 million below forecast and the state slipping deeper into a sea of red ink.
As recession lingers, Arizona food banks long on business, short on donations
The hundreds of cars lined up Nov. 25 for frozen turkeys and bags of food from St. Mary's Food Bank Alliance were three times the number at the same event last year. "We knew that our demand was going to go up for the holidays, but it has stunned us how much it went up this week," said Beverly Damore, a spokeswoman for the organization.
ADOT identifies MVD offices to shut down
The state's transportation department has identified a dozen Motor Vehicle Division offices that will be shut down. But no timeframe has been set for their actual closure.
Kyl: Obama should focus on jobs, not health care
Republican Sen. Jon Kyl said Nov. 23 that President Barack Obama should delay trying to reform the health care system and focus on job creation.
Cronkite/Eight Poll: Most Arizonans optimistic about economy
Most Arizonans think the economy will get better next year, according to a Cronkite/Eight Poll released Nov. 24. Fifty-four percent of those polled said their own economic situation will be significantly or somewhat better a year from now.
Arizona Lottery sales holding up even with economy in dire straits
Even as residents cut back on spending due to the uncertainties of sagging economy, the Arizona Lottery's sales are holding up, the latest figures show.
Game and Fish: Low OHV registrations hurting enforcement, education programs
Low compliance with a law requiring off-highway vehicle owners to purchase a $25 annual decal is hampering Arizona's efforts to educate riders and protect areas from illegal use, state officials say. In response, the Arizona Game and Fish Department is readying special patrols to catch riders who don't have decals. The penalty: $250.
A Tempe company thinks it has a revolutionary car concept, but will the public buy it?
A startup Tempe motor company is hoping to turn their lime-green, "spunky little ride" into the 21st century version of the Volkswagen Beetle. Since August 2008, Elio Motors has been working on a cockpit-shaped, three-wheeled vehicle that seats two people and is the size of a small compact car.
Lawmakers consider seeking exemption from stimulus requirements
Standing between lawmakers and millions of dollars in budget cuts to education are three letters - M-O-E. Since Arizona started drawing federal stimulus funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, some lawmakers have decried the maintenance-of-effort, or MOE, requirements for portions of the money.
State borrows $700M; first external loan since Great Depression
The State Loan Commission has approved a $700 million line of credit from Bank of America, marking the first external borrowing the state has done since the Great Depression. State Treasurer Dean Martin said his office will finalize the agreement with Bank of America next week and will begin issuing treasurer's warrants by the end of November.
Special session kicks off, but most work slated for Thursday
Lawmakers officially kicked off the fourth special session of the year - the second devoted to the fiscal 2010 budget - with an uneventful gathering at the state Capitol on Nov. 17. The work on taking a small bite out of the state's $2 billion budget deficit will take place on Nov. 19, when House and Senate budget committees are expected to meet.
