By Howard Fischer | Capitol Media Services/Arizona Daily Star
Gov. Doug Ducey is betting voters are willing to take money from the state land trust, cash now earmarked mainly for schools, to balance the budget.
A little-noticed provision in the spending plan approved just last week is contingent on the outcome of a measure put on the 2016 ballot overturning a state constitutional provision requiring proceeds from the sale or lease of trust lands be used almost exclusively for schools.
Ducey is banking on voter approval: The just-approved budget for 2016-2017 is built on the premise voters will allow him to fund the Land Department trust funds instead of the general fund.
