PHX Reporter

House Appropriations Chairman David Livingston has expressed gratitude to Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee for her letter addressing concerns over Governor Katie Hobbs' budget management. Livingston emphasized Yee's commitment to transparency amid a $350 million budget shortfall, which he attributes to the Hobbs administration's spending practices.

"I appreciate Treasurer Yee’s clarity in addressing the financial mess Governor Hobbs has created. The issue isn’t ‘missing money’—it’s blatant mismanagement," Livingston said. He criticized the Governor's leadership, claiming that state agencies are making significant spending decisions without legislative oversight.

Livingston previously highlighted issues with the state's Developmental Disabilities Program, which faces insolvency due to decisions made by Hobbs' administration without consulting the Legislature or managing agencies. Despite a growing funding shortfall, the Governor's latest budget proposal requests an additional $328 million for these programs.

"This Governor is running Arizona’s budget into the ground," Livingston continued. "She’s refusing to control spending, and instead of making responsible choices, she’s leaving families on the hook for her failures." He assured that the Joint Legislative Budget Committee will continue scrutinizing state agency budgets and hold the administration accountable.

In her letter to Livingston, Treasurer Yee clarified that there is no "missing money" but pointed out financial mismanagement by the Hobbs Administration. She noted that while her office cannot investigate state agency spending, it would alert relevant authorities if funds were suspected missing.

Yee also stressed fiscal responsibility: "Never spend more than you make." She commended Livingston and his committee for their efforts in addressing these issues and encouraged further inquiries through them.

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