Arizona lawmakers prepare to vote on a budget — Prop. 123 education funding extension not included

Arizona lawmakers are preparing to vote on a state budget plan this week. But the spending plan won’t include the renewal of a funding source for K-12 public schools.

The Legislature must pass a state budget ahead of a June 30 deadline to avoid government shutdown.

Democratic Gov. Katie Hobbs and legislative Democrats wanted the budget to include an extension of Proposition 123 — a voter-approved measure to boost education funding with revenue from the state land trust.

Hobbs has been pushing for a Proposition 123 extension for years now, but Republicans disagreed on what to use the education money for and how much revenue to spend on it.

They also argued that it’s irresponsible to account for Proposition 123 while crafting the budget when it’s uncertain whether voters would approve it at the ballot in November.

Sen. John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills) said Proposition 123 isn’t included in the deal, which requires bipartisan support.

Leaders in the state House and Senate have spent several weeks negotiating a budget plan that can pass the Republican-controlled legislature and get Hobbs’ signature.