Gov. Ducey delivers his fourth state of the state address to Yuma leaders

Gov. Doug Ducey on Thursday delivered his fourth state of the state address to Yuma leaders.

Ducey rolling out his agenda for the new session focusing heavily on education, tax-exemption for veterans, and increasing border security and what all that means to residents in Yuma county.

A lot of ground covered Thursday morning from education to tax breaks for veterans to the state’s relationship with Mexico, but before getting into the meat of things, he addressed the victims of the Florida mass shooting.

“My heart and prayers and condolences go out to the state of Florida, to all the parents and teachers and coaches that were affected by Wednesday’s tragedy we are going to be helpful in anyway we can….”
A hefty agenda in the state of the state address, starting with Arizona’s relationship with Mexico as the Governor proceeded to say Arizona’s relationship with Mexico is in great shape:

“Also instrumental to our economic success is our relationship with our number one trade partner, Mexico.”

Arizona nearly brought in sixteen billion dollars in a two-way trade with the nation and that is due in large part to the Arizona-Mexico commission.

That is because their border liaison unit, ADOT, trucking program plays a huge role.

“We’re proud that this Arizona department of transportation border liaison unit is working with Mexican truck drivers so that trucks are up to standard before they reach the border this increases safety decreases wait time and gets product to market faster….”

This idea originated in Yuma and the results seem promising, so far. Other border states like Texas, New Mexico and California are emulating on what Arizona is doing

Next on the agenda education, in the past three years, per student spending went up 10 percent and teacher pay increased by 9%, he proceeded with the following:

“This budget year 80% of the 19 budget we proposed will be in k12 education, this is a 400 million dollar in k12 education in this upcoming year
We will also fully restore the cuts that were made during the great recession with additional assistance formula with will result in one hundred million dollars this year and three hundred and seventy one dollars over the next five years

Lastly he touched on veteran tax breaks and new homes:

“Arizona is home to over six-hundred thousand veterans this year the number could swallow to 1.2 million we want to make sure that those who have served so nobly to our country are properly rewarded for their bravery. The tax exemption for military retirement pay has not been expanded in this state for thirty years I called my lawmakers in the state of the state to send me a bill to increase the exemption so our vets know we value their service…”

He also added that in November the Governor and his team sent a letter to the U.S.Department of Veterans Affairs urging federal government officials to provide matching funds for two new state veterans home including one here in Yuma to serve 60 veterans.

“Of all our top priorities I think this is something we need to take note of every year were gonna do this in the tax code and we’re gonna do this through the veterans home in this year’s budget.”

Overall, Governor Doug Ducey seems optimistic about the future. He also added that if Washington will not make a decision on the border wall and immigration issues, the state of Arizona will take care of it.