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state budget

Cano, resignation, House, legislative vacancy
Jul 5, 2023

Cano resigns for graduate school at Harvard, creating fifth legislative vacancy this session

The former state House minority leader has officially resigned, creating the fifth legislative vacancy this session. Rep. Andrés Cano, D-Tucson, sent his resignation letter Tuesday to state officials including Gov. Katie Hobbs, Secretary of State Adrian Fontes and Speaker of the House Ben Toma, R-Peoria.

Aug 13, 2021

Education alliance sues to end mask mandate prohibition, other new laws

A coalition of school board members, educators, child welfare advocates and others is asking a judge to void a host of changes in state law approved in the waning days of the legislative session.

May 8, 2017

The cost of cuts: Arizona tax carve-outs last year hit $13.7B

In fiscal year 2016, state law allowed $13.7 billion in taxes to go uncollected through a litany of exemptions, deductions, allowances, exclusions or credits. And that number is likely to grow by another $1-to-2 billion once individual income tax deductions are tallied.

May 1, 2017

Lawmakers, governor move closer to a budget deal, including university bonding

Lawmakers strove to set a budget in motion on Monday night, but fell short of introducing bills as staff worked feverishly to put in writing a $9.8 billion spending plan late into the evening. The Republican leadership in the House and Senate adjourned for the day shortly after 7 p.m. following an afternoon of behind-closed-door […]

Feb 22, 2017

Douglas wants more than Ducey’s funding assurances for unfinished IT work

Ducey’s assurance isn’t enough, said Douglas’s spokesman, Stefan Swiat. The department wants the governor’s office and the Arizona Legislature to publicly spell out how much exactly they will set aside for the IT needs, he said.

Jun 27, 2016

Counties, cities hope HURF restoration will become permanent

For cities and counties, 2016 represented at least a temporary reprieve in the long-running sweep of road maintenance funds they’ve spent years trying to reverse.

treasurer, election, vote, Yee, Quezada, PBS, debate, money, Ted Simons, ESGs, Salman, Boycott, Hamadeh, Hernandez, Abraham, Meza
Apr 29, 2016

The state budget: potential winners, losers and question marks

Lawmakers are debating a proposed $9.58 billion budget, which for the first time in years, makes significant increases in a handful of key areas.

Mar 30, 2016

It’s time to lift the freeze on KidsCare

Arizona has a real problem with uninsured kids. But we also have a time-tested solution that now has no cost to the state budget: KidsCare.

Mar 10, 2016

7 percent increase needed for developmentally disabled program

Through a privatized system of contractors, Arizona cares for about 35,000 individuals with severe developmental disabilities deemed by the state to be “at risk of institutionalization.” Instead, these individuals can receive services provided by direct service professionals employed by community providers, in their homes, other residential settings, day programs and work programs. These careg[...]

Feb 1, 2016

After nation’s deepest higher ed cuts, advocates see glimmer of hope

Arizona cut higher education funding deeper than any other state last year, capping a five-year period in which the state led the nation with a 27.3 percent cut from its support for colleges, a new report says.

Oct 29, 2015

Arizona should improve education rather than making it worse by legalizing marijuana

With considerable discussion about Arizona’s education funding, along with high school and college graduation rates, shouldn’t we do all we can to improve our state of education instead of making it much worse by legalizing marijuana?

Oct 22, 2015

Ducey won’t restore welfare cuts made during budget crunch

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey won't seek to reverse cuts to cash welfare assistance made when the state appeared to be facing a major budget crunch, despite a dramatic turnaround in state finances.