The fiscal year 2018 budget proposed a small boost in pay for Arizona teachers, allowed the state’s universities to take on more debt to construct new buildings, and instituted a performance-pay program for high-achieving schools.

The Arizona House approved the most contentious part of a $9.8 billion state budget package this evening, clearing the way for approval of the package in that chamber.

More than $11 million in the governor’s budget proposal would address fire alarm systems in the state’s buildings and prisons that are getting old, outdated and in various stages of failure.

One of the largest chunks of funding in Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget proposal would send additional dollars to high-performing schools, a plan that critics say is counterintuitive.

Gov. Doug Ducey’s university bonding proposal is a vast unknown for Arizona lawmakers.

The State Parks Board no longer faces elimination, at least for now, after a bill pushed by Gov. Doug Ducey to get rid of multiple state boards was amended in a Senate committee today.

Daniel Scarpinato, the governor’s spokesman, said Gov. Doug Ducey is open to the timing of getting a measure on the ballot and other ideas for altering the tax, including expanding it, based on discussions with the education and business communities.

Democrats tried to get rid of some strings attached to a restoration of cash assistance benefits pushed by Gov. Doug Ducey, but their efforts were ultimately unsuccessful.

Arizona State Parks Director Sue Black won’t be fired or asked to resign after a review of claims of misconduct found no laws were broken, the governor’s office said.

Gov. Doug Ducey calls Vivitrol a “miracle drug,” some worry it is an expensive, understudied quick fix to a much larger problem.