By Roland Murphy for AZBEX
While most reporting this week about the most recent $17.8B Arizona state budget proposal has focused on in-fighting between Gov. Katie Hobbs and Democratic leaders over Hobb’s apparent acquiescing to Republicans on school choice vouchers, there are a great many sections and line items of interest to the state’s construction community.
The Arizona Capitol Times reports the budget includes $150M for the Housing Trust Fund, $40M for homeless services and shelters and a $183M one-time allocation for school building renovation.
In addition to those funds, more than $100M is planned for capital projects in the state prison system.
Both Capitol Times and PinalCentral took special note of highway project funding. Capitol Times noted $76M for expanding I-17, and both outlets reported $89M to expand Interstate 10, which comes in addition to the $400M for the project approved last year. PinalCentral also cites Sen. T.J. Shope, who had previously requested $360M, as saying the new funding will allow the state to apply for between $120M and $150M in additional federal project grants.
Other Pinal County roadway projects targeted for funding in the proposed budget include $18M for improvements along SR 347, $5M for Sunland Gin Road in Eloy and $9.2M for the West Pinal Parkway project between Casa Grande and Maricopa.