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Arizona employment rate inches down; construction still struggles
Arizona added 23,300 private sector jobs last month. But many of them may just be temporary. New figures show 10,700 of those jobs were in retail sales. Aruna Murthy, director of economic analysis for the state Department of Administration, said most of these likely are seasonal hires.
Arizona state employees get raises without needed OKs
Arizona state officials gave pay raises to 169 government workers without getting the required approval from the Department of Administration.
Brewer chief of staff Smith going to Ballard Spahr
As Gov. Jan Brewer prepares to leave office, her top aide is making plans for his life after the Brewer administration. Scott Smith, a longtime member of Brewer’s administration who has served as her chief of staff since late 2012, will join law and lobbying firm Ballard Spahr in January.
McNeil firing followed EEOC complaint on racial, gender comments
One day before Gov. Jan Brewer fired Arizona Department of Administration Brian McNeil, the Governor’s Office received a complaint filed against him with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission alleging that he’d created a hostile work environment by making inappropriate comments about an employee’s ethnicity and gender.
Brewer fires ADOA director McNeil
Gov. Jan Brewer has fired Arizona Department of Administration Director Brian McNeil over what the administration described as a “personnel matter,” a move that stunned Capitol observers due to its peculiar timing and McNeil’s deep ties to the governor.
Brewer appoints lead counsel Sciarrotta to judgeship
Gov. Jan Brewer’s general counsel Joe Sciarrotta will go from the Ninth Floor to the bench when his boss leaves office next year.
AZ jobless rate dips, but job growth still ‘mediocre’
The state’s jobless rate dropped four-tenths of a point in April, the biggest month-over-month decline in decades and the first time the rate has been less than 7 percent since 2008.
Department of Administration lifts stay of mental health contract
The Arizona Department of Administration lifted a stay that had halted a multibillion-dollar contract for behavioral health services in Maricopa County, following a recommendation by an administrative law judge.
Administrative law judge upholds health care contract over Magellan protest
An administrative law judge recommended that the Arizona Department of Health Services move forward with a multibillion-dollar contract for behavioral health services in Maricopa County, rejecting an appeal by Magellan Health Services of Arizona, which argued that it should have received the contract instead.
Top Horne staffer eyes Gaming director post
The Department of Gaming director’s position that was recently vacated by Attorney General Tom Horne’s Republican primary opponent may end up being filled by one of Horne’s top staffers.
Debt Dilemma
2010 decision to mortgage state’s assets threatens cash reserves
Borrowing billions of dollars allowed Arizona to limp through the worst financial crisis in its history. But the decision to mortgage state assets that include the House and Senate buildings has an unwanted underside: It precludes the state from having significant cash reserves.
Assessing the shutdown
Could have small impact on state government, big effect on Arizona economy
State agencies that rely heavily on federal funds won’t be affected much by the government shutdown, at least in the short term.
