Thursday, January 12, 2023
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
JOINT STATEMENT BY THE ARIZONA STATE SENATE MAJORITY LEADERSHIP TEAM
Senate Republicans Announce 2023-2024 State Budget To Safeguard Arizona's Future and Provide Assurance to K-12 Families
PHOENIX, ARIZONA— The Arizona State Senate and House Majority Leadership Teams are working diligently over the next several weeks to produce a continuation of the historic budget that passed last session with bipartisan support.
"With unprecedented investments in water, education, public safety, border security, roads, infrastructure and more, this proposal will maintain services statewide and protect Arizona's fiscally responsible bedrock in the face of a recession currently underway," said Majority Leader Sonny Borrelli.
"At the same time, Senate Republicans want to provide certainty to families and teachers immersed within Arizona's public school system," said Majority Whip Sine Kerr. "Due to the increased funds Senate Republicans have pumped into K-12 schools over the past decade, including 20% pay raises for teachers by 2020, as well as last year's monumental $1 billion increase in school resources, we've once again hit the cap on the voter approved aggregate expenditure limit."
"Senate Republicans have always allowed schools to spend the funding allocated to them, and this year should be no different," said President Pro Tem T.J. Shope. "The Senate Republican Leadership Team will work ardently to prevent cuts to school budgets this year. We will come up with a solution to address this issue in a timely fashion. However, the cap was put in by voters for a purpose, and we vow to not rush the deliberative, thoughtful Legislative process that allows for maximum input from all Arizona citizens."
After a continuation budget is established, Senate Republicans plan to work with the entire legislative body on how to appropriate any remaining funding.
"We know each member of the Legislature has diverse interests that their constituents elected them into office to advocate for," said President Petersen. "We look forward to collaborating with all members on their requests and needs in the coming months to come up with a consensus for how to deal with the surplus funds, whether it's through tax relief, infrastructure, water or other priorities determined by a majority of the members."
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For more information, contact:
Kim Quintero
Director of Communications | Arizona State Senate Republican Caucus
kquintero@azleg.gov