PHOENIX — Catholic bishops are urging Gov. Jan Brewer and top legislative leaders to solve the state’s budget problems in a way that doesn’t put an entire generation of children at risk.
Bishops Thomas Olmsted of Phoenix and Gerald Kicanas of Tucson say in a joint letter that “creative solutions” are needed to preserve funding for education and programs for vulnerable children and adults.
The bishops don’t provide specific recommendations but urge the leaders to seek solutions through collaboration.
They say a solution can be gleaned by “asking the people and the private and public institutions of Arizona to step up with ideas and step up with resources.”
The state faces a shortfall of roughly $3 billion in its next budget based on $11 billion of spending.