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3d ago

Arizona Governor Signs Bipartisan $17.6 Billion Budget to Avert Shutdown

Ending a record 165-day session, the budget includes major boosts for public safety funding and school infrastructure

FILE - Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs speaks at a campaign event for Democratic presidential nominee Vice President Kamala Harris at Talking Stick Resort Amphitheatre, Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York, File)

Overview

  • The Senate gave final approval on June 27 and Governor Katie Hobbs signed the budget, bringing the 165-day session to a close and averting a shutdown.
  • First responders received permanent raises of 15% for firefighters and 5% for state troopers, along with a one-time 4% bonus for corrections officers.
  • Education and infrastructure got key investments, including $183 million for school repairs and $119 million for road projects such as State Route 347 upgrades and I-10 widening.
  • Hobbs secured partial funding for her initiatives, allocating $45 million for child care programs, $3 million for out-of-school grants, $1 million for Colorado River litigation defense and $500,000 for veterans’ homelessness planning.
  • Dissent surfaced over a $24 million provision for stricter enforcement against undocumented immigrants, prompting six Democrats to oppose the plan.