Nearly four months after she said she planned on releasing a detailed budget, Gov. Jan Brewer has done so. Her plan bridges an estimated $4 billion budget deficit through increases to the sales and property taxes, borrowing against future Lottery revenue, mortgaging some state buildings and cutting state spending.

Most Capitol observers believe voters are more likely to approve Gov. Jan Brewer’s temporary tax increase proposal than the Legislature, but recent events in California may be a sign that the governor should have a good backup plan ready.

Consumers and homeowners would pay higher taxes under a new budget proposal from legislative Democrats, but they say it will protect middle-class families more than Republican proposals and will stabilize future state revenues.

Labor unions and a variety of advocacy groups have compiled a list of alternate budget options for lawmakers to consider and are urging the adoption of a budget that makes no spending cuts and restores cuts made in January.

Most Arizonans support Gov. Jan Brewer's proposal for a temporary sales tax increaseto help address the state's budget deficit, according to a Cronkite/Eight Poll released April 28.