PHOENIX (AP) - Gov. Janet Napolitano on Friday signed into law the budget passed by the Legislature, including steps to erase a big projected revenue shortfall for the fiscal year starting next Tuesday.
|
|
The Legislature struggled all session with the state’s finances troubles and there were concerns that there might be a possible partial state government shutdown if a budget wasn’t approved in time.
The House late Thursday approved the multi-bill package by 31-29 votes about 11 hours after the Senate passed it at dawn, also by razor-thin margins.
The Legislature is a mix of borrowing, spending cuts, sweeps of dollars from special-purpose funds and deferrals of some spending into the next fiscal year.
The budget also includes authorization for photo speed enforcement on state highways though it doesn’t include a specific figure for anticipated revenue.
Also included: authorization for $1 billion in bonding for university construction and repair projects, with repayment coming from anticipated increases in Arizona Lottery sales.
Napolitano said the approved budget protects critical services and invests in the state’s priorities, including education.
Though it includes ``some painful cuts,’’ the budget ``will fix our short-term gap without being shortsighted,’’ she said.
The Legislature’s voting on the budget saw a handful of Republicans in each chamber side with minority Democrats to pass the budget, which Senate leaders negotiated in consultation with Napolitano and House Democrats.
Its approval was preceded by months of on-and-off bipartisan negotiations that finally broke off a week ago with House Republicans insisting on deeper spending cuts and less borrowing.
A plan the House Republican leaders offered to push that approach didn’t gain enough support, however, and was never voted.
On the Net:
Arizona Legislature: http://www.azleg.gov
Comments