Arizona will collect less than a third of the money it needs in transportation taxes to meet the anticipated needs by 2035, including keeping the state's roads and bridges repaired, a new state report shows.

Several House Republicans were surprised to hear that the nowscrapped renovation plans to the chamber would cost more than $2 million. But not all of the caucus was surprised that the project was estimated to cost double what sources had originally said.

Reaction was quick and decisive when House Republicans learned of Speaker David Gowan’s plans for a second large-scale renovation of the chamber in the past six months.

House Speaker David Gowan’s Republican colleagues don’t trust him with the power of the House purse. Gowan told the Arizona Capitol Times that the House has plans in place for a large-scale construction project. The project, which Gowan said is still in the planning phase, will include installing showers and building a new “multi-purpose” room, a massive overhaul of the House basement and offices there, along with new carpet throughout the House.

Despite efforts by policymakers to diversify the state’s economy, Arizona still rides on the boom and bust of the housing industry. And when this sector is inactive, its silence – and all the troubles that entails – reverberate throughout the state.

A lien placed by a construction firm doesn’t automatically have priority over other liens recorded after work begins on a development, according to a Arizona Supreme Court ruling.

The jobless rate fell to 8.2 percent in October, compared to 8.3 percent in the month before, the state’s Office of Employment and Population Statistics reported today. In contrast, the U.S. jobless rate rose – to 7.3 percent from 7.2 ...

Nearly three years after lawmakers started soliciting public donations to build a portion of fence along Arizona’s border with Mexico, lawmakers still don’t have a plan to build a fence with the $264,028 they have received.

The iArizona Committee is headed by Mesa Mayor Scott Smith and backed by a broad coalition of local politicians, construction contractors and business interests. Their ultimate goal is to boost Arizona’s economy and status as a transportation hub connecting Los Angeles, Dallas and Mexico, as well as linking Arizona’s manufacturing and economic hubs to one another.

A performance audit by the state Auditor General’s Office highlighted several problems in the Registrar of Contractors system designed to ensure quality work from licensed contractors to consumers.