On Friday, Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs announced that she signed an $17.8 billion budget for the 2024 fiscal year that features heavy investments in education, transportation and tax rebates.
“Today, we showed what happens when pragmatic leaders come together and compromise to get things done for Arizonans,” Hobbs said in a press release. “While it isn’t perfect, this budget is an important step towards making housing more affordable, building more roads, bridges and broadband access, expanding children’s health insurance, and investing in our public schools.”
The FY 2023 budget includes the following investments:
• Education: $680 million in new education investments, including a $300 million infusion into K-12, an $88 million ongoing increase to per pupil funding, and $183 million for school capital funding
• Public Safety: $256 million, including operational investments for the Departments of Corrections, Public Safety, and Emergency and Military Affairs, as well as $36 million in local sheriff and police department support
• Transportation: $610 million in state and local transportation projects, including $89 million to expand lanes on the I-10, $76 million to expand lanes on the I-17, as well as $54 million in pavement rehabilitation for roads affected by winter weather
• Tax Cuts: $260 million for the Arizona Families Tax Rebate, which will provide up to $750 to taxpayers with children and adult dependents
• Health and Welfare: $342 million, including $150 million for the Housing Trust Fund to develop more affordable housing, $60 million for emergency homeless services and temporary shelters, as well as $14 million specifically allocated for veteran housing and employment services
• Natural Resources: $174 million in natural resource investments, including $143 million in reallocated funding for targeted water-related projects
“From day one, our Majority has been focused on getting the job done for our constituents: putting Arizona families first, protecting the vulnerable, and growing opportunity and freedom. We’re conservatives. We believe you should keep more of your money and the government should spend less. That’s why we believe this is Arizona’s Budget — a budget that reflects our needs, gives back, spends smart, and addresses real issues. We needed a budget that the Governor would sign that accomplishes our goal of putting Arizona families first. This budget accomplishes both,” said Speaker of the House Rep. Ben Toma.
“We’re able to do this for our citizens, while also reducing government spending by $300 million. In fact, this is the first budget since 2017 where we have not added any new ongoing spending above formula increases,” said Senate President Warren Petersen. “Additionally, Senate Republicans prevented the Governor and Democrat Legislators from advancing their extremist agenda. State-funded abortions and tuition-free college education for undocumented immigrants will not happen in Arizona. We are not getting rid of state-funded border security resources to keep our communities safe, especially as the Biden Administration foolishly lifts Title 42. We’re also not capping, cutting or eliminating the historic universal school choice program that now has more than 50,000 participants. Needless to say, your Republican Majority at the Legislature will continue to fight to protect Arizona from turning into California at the hands of the radical left.”
“Senate Republicans are also prioritizing public safety funding and providing our men and women in law enforcement with the essential tools needed to successfully protect our citizens,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman John Kavanagh. “We’re investing nearly $300 million, which will provide upgrades to communications systems, uniforms, vehicles and other critical resources. With our open border crisis, this support is crucial in combating the potential increase in deadly drugs and criminal activity anticipated within our state.”
The budget also includes inflation relief for Arizona families who are struggling from skyrocketing prices with the passage of the Arizona Families Tax Rebate.
“The budget is largely a win for Republicans if you judge it by how unhappy the majority of legislative Democrats are.” said one Capitol lobbyist who asked not to be named. “And it preserves some of the Republicans’ greatest accomplishments from the Ducey era, including universal school choice.”
Republican consultant Constantin Querard noted Hobbs’ praise for Republican lawmakers who supported the budget, tweeting:
“AZ Gov Katie Hobbs says AZ budget shows “what happens when pragmatic leaders come together & compromise to get things done for Arizonans” – Remember she called ALL of the legislature’s Republicans “pragmatic leaders” when she spends millions calling them extremists in about a yr.”
AZ Gov Katie Hobbs says AZ budget shows “what happens when pragmatic leaders come together & compromise to get things done for Arizonans" – Remember she called ALL of the legislature's Republicans "pragmatic leaders" when she spends millions calling them extremists in about a yr.
— Constantin Querard (@CQuerard) May 13, 2023
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