What happens if state government shuts down on July 1?

Posted by AzBlueMeanie:

This question was posed by the Arizona Republic today and reporters Casey Newton and Mary Jo Pitzl received some interesting answers What if the budget rift shuts down the state?:

If government does shut down, Arizonans will feel it in several ways. An Arizona Republic survey of key state agencies found:

• All Motor Vehicle Division branches would close, preventing Arizonans from getting driver's licenses, having their cars inspected or registering their vehicles in person. The MVD is making arrangements to make at least some of those services available online.

• The state would be unable to take abuse reports for children and the elderly, provide child care or cash assistance to families, or provide services to victims of domestic violence.

• The Department of Health Services would suspend operations, preventing officials from conducting investigations and tracking disease outbreaks at the state level. Coordinating the response to cases such as the recent swine-flu outbreak would be left to counties.

• All 28 state parks would likely close indefinitely.

• All state highway construction and projects would be suspended.

• Visitation at all 13 state prisons would be suspended, as would programs that allow inmates to perform work for cities, counties and state agencies.

• The governor, lawmakers, attorney general and other constitutional offices could still operate. But there would be no money or authority for staffs to work.

• Payroll would be shut down. That could leave thousands of state workers without compensation for work they did June 15-30 because checks for that period will not be cut until July 3.

State Treasurer Dean Martin said that absent stop-gap funding legislation, "all the financial operations of the state come to a halt at midnight on June 30."

That means no ability to issue paychecks, pay bills for such basic services as electricity and water, or even to process the transfer of federal money that pours into the state budget.

* * *

The Department of Corrections will need funds to pay corrections officers and feed prisoners; the DHS requires up to $250,000 a day to run the Arizona State Hospital and screen newborns for diseases.

The DHS will use Lottery funds to cover any gap in funding, interim Director Will Humble said. Corrections Director Charles L. Ryan said his department is working with the Governor's Office to develop a plan for funding.

Lists were due from state agencies last week on which essential services they would continue, but those plans are still being compiled, department spokesman Alan Ecker said.

For those thoughtless individuals who relish the thought of a government shutdown based upon their shortsighted ideological agendas, it's not that funny, now is it?