Gilbert Davidson, the new chief operating officer for Gov. Doug Ducey’s administration, still hasn’t decorated his office on the Ninth Floor, but he has already challenged state agencies to find ways to cut money from their budgets.

The Arizona Department of Revenue has laid off 52 employees this week, citing budget cuts.

Gov. Doug Ducey has promised to sign a bill restoring funding to Joint Technical Education Districts, if a bill ever reaches his desk.

A House panel moved quickly Monday to restore funding for Joint Technical Education Districts ahead of a $30 million cut to the programs that, without action, will kick in this coming school year.

Last year, the state budget cut CTE programs at students’ home campuses and specialized career campuses known as JTEDS, or joint technical education districts.

Small charter school networks were saved from massive spending cuts today by a formal opinion of Attorney General Mark Brnovich.

Groups that advocate for sentencing reform and human services said today the prime example of the misplaced spending priorities of lawmakers is putting the planned expansion of up to 2,000 prison beds up for bid to private prison companies.

Officials at the University of Arizona are planning layoffs to help deal with budget cuts. The Arizona Daily Star reports the Arizona Board of Regents' finance committee Wednesday approved a $1.9 billion operating budget for the university and its two medical schools.

The Joint Legislative Budget Committee on Friday revised its estimate for cuts to funding for small charter schools and said the Department of Education is wrong in its interpretation of legislation establishing the reduction.

The Department of Education will ask the attorney general this week to issue a formal opinion on cuts to funds that support smaller schools.