Arizona Board of Regents Chairman Mark Killian’s new job might put him in a tough spot vis-à-vis his new boss, Gov. Doug Ducey

Higher education suffered the most under the spending plan the governor signed into law last month, and today (April 9), Ducey faced its leaders. But if there was any animosity between the governor and the regents, it didn’t show in today’s ABOR meeting.

Gov. Doug Ducey suggested Thursday that the funding cuts just imposed on the state’s three universities might be permanent. And he would not rule out future reductions in state aid.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey plans to attend his first meeting of the board that oversees the state's three public universities.

How many times are we going to watch this movie? State imposes budget cuts. Recipient fights back. Repeat. Play. Repeat. Play. We’re sick of this movie and have worked diligently to change the script.

Saying the Arizona Constitution is being ignored, the chairman of the Arizona Board of Regents said Tuesday his colleagues should sue the Legislature if they do not come forward with more funds for the university system.

Arizona legislators advanced a budget deal struck by Senate and House leaders and Gov. Doug Ducey, but the bills won’t move any further unless GOP leadership can change the minds of more than a dozen rank-and-file members opposed to the spending plan.

OSPB Director John Arnold will move over to the Bd of Regents once Brewer leaves office, several sources with knowledge of the situation told our reporter today (Dec. 4). One railbird said Arnold will become ABOR’s budget chief.

In their final debate before the Nov. 4 general election, Republican Doug Ducey and Democrat Fred DuVal grappled with how they would solve the billion-dollar deficit they’ll inherit as Arizona’s next governor, with neither candidate giving much in the way of firm proposals.

As early ballots went out, the extremely lopsided outside spending in the governor’s race strongly favored Republican nominee Doug Ducey. In the meantime, independent expenditure spending for Democratic nominee Fred DuVal is picking up, but not by much.