Editorial board | The Arizona Republic
For Arizona, the nagging, frustrating effects of the Great Recession refuse to go away.
We thought we were beyond the pain. Beyond the shock of losing a full third of the previous year’s revenue, as Arizona did in 2010. Beyond those desperate scrambles to plug holes: Selling off state buildings. Raising the sales tax. Sweeping state agencies. Downsizing. Cutting. Struggling not to lose ground.
We thought we were past all that. But we’re not. An exceedingly slow recovery and the lingering effects of the recession have opened an estimated $520 million deficit for this fiscal year, and a $1 billion shortfall for fiscal 2016.
