Arizona governor requests funding for 97 new state jobs

Arizona Governor Doug Ducey is seeking funding for 97 new positions across state government in apparent contrast to his plans for a hiring freeze.

The Arizona Capitol Times reports that Ducey implemented the state government hiring freeze shortly after taking office in 2015 and said it saved Arizona $21 million last year.

Ducey’s most recent budget proposal, however, adds 97 positions at several departments, agencies, boards and commissions for a total cost of about $10 million per year.

Daniel Scarpinato, the governor’s spokesman, says the hiring freeze always came with exemptions for positions relating to health or safety of the public, employees directly involved in collecting state revenues and any “mission critical” employees. He also says most agencies! have fallen below an employee headcount set by the Governor’s Office.