PHOENIX — The newly signed state budget for the fiscal year beginning Tuesday contains some significant items that got agreement from lawmakers and the governor.
Public safety
5% pay raise for state troopers.
15% more in pay for state firefighters.
$30 million for fire suppression.
$8 million to help law enforcement fight drug smuggling and human trafficking.
A one-time 4% bonus for corrections officers.
$5 million to sheriffs for border security.
K-12 education
$183 million for schools to use for major repairs.
$66 million in additional funds for equipment, technology and textbooks.
Full funding for the voucher program.
$500,000 in grants for defibrillators for high schools with sports and athletic teams.
Higher education
$16 million more for scholarships for in-state students.
Authority for universities to borrow an additional $325 million, including for a new medical school and nursing school.
Social services and health care
$49 million in state funds and $81 million in federal dollars to expand child care access.
$3.8 million to eliminate co-pays for reduced-price school meals.
$4.2 million to support critical access to hospitals in rural and underserved areas.
$100,000 to expand Medicaid to cover traditional healing services for tribal members.
$16.5 million for housing services, including eviction prevention and shelter operations.
$1 million set aside for potential litigation over rights to Colorado River water.
Tax breaks
No property taxes for veterans who are 100% disabled.
Allows businesses to exempt $500,000 of equipment from property taxes, up from $270,000.
Construction projects
$54 million to finish work on State Route 347 between the edge of Phoenix and Maricopa.
$35 million for an “emergency evacuation bridge’’ in Lake Havasu City.
$27 million to widen Interstate 10 in the Buckeye area.
$25 million to study plans for Interstate 11 through Maricopa County.
$15 million to study a north-south corridor in Pinal County.
$14 million to study the Sonoran Corridor connection between I-10 and I-19 in Pima County.
$10 million to Tucson to improve the Drexel Road bridge.
$10 million to Marana to design an interchange at I-10 and Cortaro Road.
$9 million to improve SR 83 in Santa Cruz County.
$8 million to build turn lanes along SR 95 near Bullhead City.
* This is only a partial list of projects. Full list in budget bill at: tucne.ws/roads
Sources: Governor’s Office; Senate Republican staff
The Arizona State Capitol in Phoenix.
