PHOENIX — Gov. Doug Ducey proposes to restore less than 10 percent of what was cut last year from state universities, give the Department of Child Safety just two-thirds of what it requested but seek to add another 2,000 beds to house inmates.
And he wants to set aside close to $24 million in a legally questionable plan that would essentially become a loan guarantee fund designed to help highly performing traditional public and charter schools borrow money at a lower interest rate.
In his budget proposal announced this afternoon, the governor also is putting another $90 million into K-12 education. But half of that is what is required by law to fund student growth and inflation.
Of the other half, $30 million is for career and technical education. But that really is a net wash, as lawmakers voted last year to cut that much from Joint Technical Education Districts beginning this coming school year.
Other key provisions of the $9.5 billion spending plan include:
• Combining several state agencies to save money;
• Additional cash for vocational rehabilitation services for physically and mentally disabled;
• Increasing what the state pays to provide child care for low-income individuals so they can maintain employment.
Notably missing from what was released today is what taxes the governor intends to cut and by how much. Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said that is still being negotiated with the House and Senate Republican leadership.
