PHOENIX (AP) - The Latest on the release of Gov. Doug Ducey’s budget proposal (all times local):
2 p.m.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey wants to pump $114 million in new money into K-12 education for initiatives including teacher raises, signing bonuses for low-income school instructors and an expansion of full-day kindergarten.
The new spending for K-12 education released in Ducey’s budget proposal Friday is above required inflation increases. A $52 million boost in university spending is another highlight of the $9.8 billion plan for the budget year that starts July 1.
The new university cash mostly goes to help float a new $1 billion construction bond package.
The new spending is well above the $24 million the Legislature’s analysists predicted would be available.
The budget doesn’t include across-the-board pay raises for state employees, who haven’t seen one in nearly 10 years and are earning 19 percent below market wages.
3 a.m.
Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey is set to release his budget proposal as he puts firm numbers behind policies he outlined in this week’s State of the State address.
The budget to be revealed Friday and is expected to pump new cash into K-12 schools.
Just how much the Republican governor commits to new education spending is being closely watched. He rolled out 15 new or expanded education initiatives in Monday’s address to the Legislature.
They included teacher raises, bonuses for teacher that commit to low-income schools and expanding all-day kindergarten.
Ducey isn’t expected to have a lot of free cash, with the state surplus for next year expected to be less than $50 million.
The governor’s office plans to live stream the 2 p.m. release. The website is www.azgovernor.gov/budget
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