Grand Canyon Times

Gov. Doug Ducey (R-AZ) touted what he called a “fiscally conservative” budget plan, which was passed on June 23 by the Arizona Legislature.

“Over the last eight years, Arizona has made responsible decisions to live within our means, reduce burdensome government regulations and increase trust in our citizens — and the result is a booming economy with record revenues,” Ducey said, in a statement on the Governor’s Official Website. “With this budget, we’re putting those dollars to good use and investing in priorities that Republicans and Democrats alike can agree on. It’s no wonder this budget passed the Legislature with large bipartisan support.”

The Arizona Legislature passed the $18 billion spending plan on June 23, to cover the July 1 fiscal year.

“The state’s budget makes strategic and fiscally responsible investments in areas that matter most to all Arizonans: education, border security, public safety, infrastructure, saving for our future, reducing taxes and paying down debt,” Ducey said, according to his website. “For rural and urban Arizonans, families, young professionals and small business owners — this is a budget that delivers.”

Ducey said the spending plan ensures that lawmakers will leave Arizona “better than we found it.”

“Taken together, these investments demonstrate an unwavering commitment to do what the people of Arizona expect us to do: address today’s needs and prepare our state for the opportunities and challenges that lay ahead,” he said, according to his website.

Ducey, who has been in office since 2015, gave credit to all the lawmakers who helped sponsor and work on the budget plan.

“On behalf of all the residents of our great state, thank you to Senate President Karen Fann (R), House Speaker Rusty Bowers (R), Sen. David Gowan (R), Rep. Regina Cobb (R) and all the lawmakers who worked late into the night to make this success possible,” he said.