A Look at Revenue Estimates and Budget Requests
Children’s Action Alliance Newsletter:
State Revenues Are Up & So Are State Funding Needs
Last October, the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff released new revenue estimates that project Arizona will have a $650 million cash balance by the end of fiscal year 2017. They cautioned, however, that only about $250 million is likely to be ongoing revenues. Policymakers should be cautious about dedicating more than the $250 million to tax cuts or ongoing spending increases.
The state’s cash balances have risen as investments per student have dropped dramatically in both K-12 and university education. Strategies to help strengthen families and prevent abuse, neglect and other crises have also shrunk.
While we don’t know what Governor Ducey’s budget proposal will include, we know that the major state agencies are requesting nearly $600 million in new funding. Click here for a breakdown of these requests.
MAJOR AGENCIES IDENTIFY NEED FOR $583 MILLION MORE FOR NEXT FISCAL YEAR
A common theme throughout the major agency budget requests is the need for additional funds to meet the growing demand for services, from more children in the foster care system to more prisoners.
|
STATE GENERAL FUND APPROPRIATIONS |
|||||
|
Agency |
FY 15 Funding |
FY 16 Funding |
FY 17 Request |
Increase Requested Above FY 16 Funding Level |
|
| Education1 |
$3,835,253,800 |
$3,889,519,500 |
$3,977,981,000 |
$ 88,461,500 |
2% |
| AHCCCS2 |
1,225,882,700 |
1,205,162,300 |
1,343,188,900 |
153,226,600 |
13% |
| Corrections |
996,845,600 |
1,029,900,600 |
1,096,950,000 |
67,049,400 |
7% |
| Universities |
768,421,900 |
660,845,100 |
731,849,600 |
71,004,500 |
11% |
| Economic Security2 |
482,542,300 |
496,181,900 |
612,794,700 |
86,113,000 |
17% |
| Child Safety |
361,005,400 |
356,448,200 |
462,344,500 |
105,896,300 |
30% |
| Health Services2 |
102,184,500 |
602,738,300 |
96,875,800 |
11,442,200 |
13% |
| TOTAL |
$7,772,136,200 |
$8,240,995,900 |
$8,823,984,400 |
$583,193,500 |
7% |
1. FY 17 request includes $75 million for student growth and formula adjustments projected by the Joint Legislative Budget Committee staff but not included in the Department of Education’s budget request.
2. The Division of Behavioral Health Services is being transferred from the Department of Health Services to AHCCCS and the Department of Economic Security in FY 17. The FY 16 Funding and FY 17 Request columns include the shift of the $517 million from Health Services to AHCCCS and Economic Security but the columns showing the increase dollar amount and percentage do not.
Category: General
