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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.
State revenues continue to rise
After years of incessant cuts, Arizona might be on the verge of shifting the budget discussion following months of robust revenue collections.
Revenues exceed forecasts by $322M, but state leaders reluctant to call it a surplus
Six straight months of revenues exceeding projections has some lawmakers hoping to reverse the impact of Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget cuts, but the Governor’s Office has signaled that agency heads and legislators shouldn’t get their hopes up.
Arizona reports budget surplus after taxes
Arizona ended the budget year with a $266 million surplus, a stark contrast from the $132 million deficit lawmakers had planned for.
Pima, Pinal counties may have to hike tax rates for court to decide legality of budget provision
Pima and Pinal counties may have to set their tax rates – and hike the levy on businesses and homeowners – before any court decides whether a provision in the state budget is legal.
Pima County sues state, saying it shifted burden to county taxpayers
Pima County sued the state of Arizona Monday to block a new budget provision the county says shifts tax burdens away from the state and on to county taxpayers.
Educators say legislative budget error could cost district charter schools millions
When lawmakers approved the state budget in March, they accidentally left out one key part. Because of the omission, several longstanding district-sponsored charter schools – public schools that have reorganized as charter schools to capture more state funding – will be on the hook for tens of millions of dollars in back payments.
Strong revenue showing raises questions about whether lawmakers acted too fast
The surprisingly strong showing in state revenue collections in April promptly revived questions surrounding the wisdom of rushing the budget’s passage earlier this year.
Pima prepares to sue over state budget
Pima County yesterday (April 7) authorized the hiring of an outside counsel to prepare a lawsuit alleging that a budget provision reducing property tax levies for some school districts is unconstitutional. Lobbyist Michael Racy told our reporter today (April 8) that the provision in S1476 (budget; BRB; K-12 education; FY2015-16) is especially hard on Pima County.
Ducey to critics: Where’s your alternative plan?
Ducey today (March 12) pushed back against criticisms leveled at the $9.1 billion spending plan he negotiated with lawmakers by digging up an oft-repeated counterclaim Brewer and her allies had deployed against those who had lambasted the 2013 Medicaid expansion.
Funding higher education in Arizona – the looming question
How many times are we going to watch this movie? State imposes budget cuts. Recipient fights back. Repeat. Play. Repeat. Play. We’re sick of this movie and have worked diligently to change the script.
Responsible budget puts Arizona on right track
Every election, it seems, politicians give lip service to the need for fiscal responsibility and a balanced budget. But once they are in office, they lack the courage and resolve to actually achieve one. It’s always politically more convenient to spend more than we take in, hide growing debt and liabilities through clever accounting tricks, and leave the consequences for someone else to clean up[...]
