By Heather Smathers | PinalCentral
Making a push for support of his proposed budget, a contingent of the governor’s staff met with residents in Casa Grande to discuss priorities.
Matt Gress, director of strategic planning and budgeting for Gov. Doug Ducey’s office, presented the highlights of the governor’s budget to a group of community leaders Wednesday morning.
The proposal includes “financial relief” for counties, including the elimination of a county cost sharing fee for the Department of Juvenile Corrections and an increase in Highway User Revenue Funds, money that go to cities and counties for road maintenance.
An increase in the state’s gasoline tax proposed by Republican Rep. Noel Campbell of Prescott is among the proposals to shore up revenues. Drivers currently pay 18 cents per gallon but there is a proposal to increase the tax by a total of 25 cents over the next three years, in increments of 10 cents for the first two years and 5 cents in the third year. Ducey has been on record as opposing tax increases.
