PHOENIX (AP) — The Arizona Legislature has adjourned its latest special session on the state's fiscal crisis after agreeing to ask voters to abolish an early childhood program and use its tobacco-tax funding to help close big budget shortfalls.
The Senate's 17-13 vote Tuesday completes legislative action on the House-passed referendum, placing it on the November ballot. The $325 million that would be transferred from the First Things First program authorized by voters in 2006 was the last unfinished major part of the Republican budget-balancing plan.
Most of the plan was approved last week. The Senate skipped voting on a House-passed bill to eliminate a business tax break. Its $20 million of additional revenue isn't needed to balance the budget.
