The state is still in the first quarter of the new fiscal year, but it’s already time to start the budgeting process for next year. On September 1, most state agencies submitted their wish lists for the year ahead – proposals that the Governor will consider as she puts together the state budget she will release in January.
The Governor’s office hasn’t published all the agency requests, but some of the outlined priorities include:
- The Department of Health Services, which requested new spending for:
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- 38 new staff members to help license and monitor health and childcare facilities, group homes, and health professionals
- More resources for the Arizona State Hospital
- Enhanced administrative support for public health outreach and partnerships with tribal communities
- More funding for school vision and hearing screenings
- State dollars to backfill federal cuts to sexually transmitted infection control programs
- The Department of Environmental Quality, which seeks new resources to:
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- Backfill increased costs associated with agency operations
- Direct all municipal water taxes into the Safe Drinking Water Fund
- Enhance the air quality programs by adding two staff members to work on air quality state implementation plans
- Upgrade the smoke management database for prescribed burns
- Boost programs that remove PFAS from firefighting materials
- Enhance the Recycling Grants Program
- AHCCCS Seeks more money in their FY2025Budget for:
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- An increase of $596.5 million in state General Fund monies and an increase of $32.6 million in Other Appropriated Funds for a net appropriated funds increase of $629.2 million above FY 2024.
- Money is mostly for anticipated caseload growth and Cap Rate adjustments
- 10-page cover letter outlines the details: FY2025Budget
- Note: Sadly, the request does not include funds for secure residential behavioral health facilities
