The Latest: ASU President Crow touts university loan plan

The Latest on hearings on a proposed $9.8 billion state budget (all times local):

10 a.m.

Arizona State University President Michael Crow is touting a $1 billion university loan program includes in the state budget proposal.

Crow told the Senate Education Committee on Wednesday that the bonding package would allow his university to develop new research facilities that attract new businesses to the state and boost the Arizona economy.

The budget proposal contains a $27 million yearly appropriation starting in 2019 spread among the three universities. The 25-year appropriation will be matched by the universities and allow them to issue bonds to finance construction and maintenance.

The proposal is controversial among some majority Republicans for various reasons, including worries about debt and concerns that universities already are over-funded.

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9 a.m.

All Arizonans would get an additional income tax break under an amendment to a proposed state budget plan that was negotiated by members of the Arizona House of Representatives. Republican Rep. Michele Ugenti Rita of Scottsdale said Wednesday that she and Republican Rep. Tony Rivero of Peoria worked to get an increased personal income tax exemption into the budget. The $100 increase wasn’t included in the $9.8 billion spending plan that was introduced Tuesday.

Ugenti says she worked with Gov. Doug Ducey’s office to get provision in the budget. She calls it a good first step to show average taxpayers that lawmakers haven’t forgotten them.

Ducey’s budget proposed indexing the exemption for inflation but no increase.

Budget hearings are scheduled for all day Wednesday with floor debate and votes expected Thursday.

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3 a.m.

The public will have just one day to weigh in on a $9.8 billion state spending plan that Republican lawmakers and Gov. Doug Ducey have agreed upon.

Hearings before Senate and House committees start Wednesday morning and are expected to last all day. The package of 11 bills funding the budget year beginning July 1 will run through the appropriations and education committees.

The plan includes cash for the state’s three universities to make payments on a $1 billion construction and building maintenance loan package. It also includes bigger teacher raises than Ducey sought – 2 percent over two years instead of 2 percent over five years.

Democrats are pushing for a 4 percent increase. Debate and votes on the budget are tentatively set for Thursday.

Copyright 2017 The Associated Press.