The political tango over the shape of the state’s budget for the next few years has begun.
Legislative leaders met with Gov. Jan Brewer Tuesday, but the two sides couldn’t yet agree on how to proceed with crafting the state’s spending plan.
In looming budget fight, Pierce says GOP caucus is ‘further to the right’ than Brewer realizes
Lawmakers cast wary eyes on rosy surplus projections 
While they’re uncomfortable with Gov. Jan Brewer’s higher revenue forecast in two years, Republican lawmakers aren’t rejecting her spending plan outright.
In fact, many are agreeable to some of the expenditures Brewer is seeking.
Brewer budget plans for slow growth, cautious spending 
Gov. Jan Brewer is treading carefully and offering a multiyear budget that plans that includes hundreds of millions in one-time expenditures, but gives the state a financial cushion for the coming fiscal cliff in 2014.
The Governor’s Office today unveiled budget plan for fiscal year 2013 and the remainder of 2012 that is projected to leave the state in the black by about $329 million when the Proposition 100 sales tax increase expires and federal health care mandates are expected to take a major toll on the state budget in fiscal year 2014.
Governor, lawmakers will need to reconcile budget estimates 
Gov. Jan Brewer today laid out her spending plan, but before she can hammer out a deal with lawmakers, the two sides will have to reconcile their revenue projections for the next few years.
Right now, their only clear agreement is that, barring another economic downturn and events beyond the state’s control, revenues will climb steadily, albeit slowly.
State posts modest revenue growth in November 
State revenues grew modestly in November even as signs of economic strains persist.
Read More »Increased state revenue is money already spent
Well, that didn’t take long. The state hadn’t even closed its books on the outgoing fiscal year, and already there were some in the Legislature clamoring for us to spend money we don’t have.
Read More »Budget analysts: Arizona might be back in black by end of fiscal year 
Legislative budget analysts say preliminary revenue reports for May show the state could wipe out the bulk of its red ink in the current fiscal year.
Read More »We’re in the money… comparatively speaking
Arizona's recovery is holding steady. JLBC reported that, for the ninth consecutive month, April posted year-over-year growth in revenue collections.
Read More »Pearce: No spending increase even if state gets extra cash 
Pointing out that Arizona faces a revenue cliff when a temporary sales tax increase expires in two years, Senate President Russell Pearce said any extra money the state collects won’t be used to restore cuts or be spent on new programs.
Read More »Arizona revenue figures show gains from last year
Legislative budget analysts see good news in a preliminary figures from Arizona's April tax collections.
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