The Accidental Governor begins preparing for a state government shutdown

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

After earlier denying reports that she had told House Minority Leader David Lujan last week that she was prepared to shut down government if a budget deal isn't struck, on Monday the Accidental Governor ordered her agency chiefs to figure out what state services will continue — and which will not — if there is no budget when the new fiscal year begins July 1. Brewer asks agencies to consider shutdown:

Under orders from the governor, Bill Bell, director of the Department of Administration, has instructed every state department to determine what services are “essential.” The presumption is that, budget or not, these will continue to be funded.

“Certainly, as any governor always does, they prepare for a disaster,” Brewer said Monday of her plans. And as of Monday, there is not only no state budget but talks between the governor and Republican legislative leaders had broken down.

I'll have to give the Accidental Governor some slack on her flip-flopping on this issue – although her compulsion to lie about what she told David Lujan last week is inexcusable and disturbing – it is only prudent for her to be prepared in advance for a state government shutdown beginning on July 1.

Bell, in his memo to other agency directors, said there is a presumption that certain functions would continue, with or without legislative authority to spend money.

Bell's memo to agency directors said there is a presumption that certain functions would continue, with or without legislative authority to spend money. For example, he said the state constitution specifically requires a workers' compensation system. That ensures all who are injured in work-related accidents get medical bills paid and receive a portion of their lost salaries.

Bell also said the state is required to comply with court orders, such as a mandate by a judge to take custody of someone sentenced for a crime, which would likely keep the prison system operating. And there are federal requirements to provide health care for inmates.

However, the memo does not address whether the Department of Public Safety or other state law-enforcement functions are legally considered essential. Bell said voter-approved mandates likely would qualify for continued funding.

That should protect the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the state's indigent health-care program. But voters never approved some of the extra mandates, such as the KidsCare program, which provides nearly free care for the children of the working poor.

Other items might not be essential but are critical to keep essential functions running.

One example, said Alan Ecker, spokesman for the Department of Administration, is the Department of Revenue, which processes sales-tax payments and income-tax withholding — money that would be needed for those mandated services.

And someone will be needed to process the paychecks for the employees still working. "It's a complex issue," Ecker said.

What this report does not mention is that local governments including counties, municipalities and school districts will also be impacted when funding tied to the state of Arizona is disrupted. How much of an impact will depend upon what funding sources are disrupted and how long the government shutdown will continue. It is simply too early to know what will be impacted at this time.

Countdown to government shutdown: 14 days. Tick, tock, tick, tock…