AZ Joint Legislative Budget Committee addresses financial mismanagement under Gov. Hobbs

PHOENIX (KYMA, KECY) - The Arizona Joint Legislative Budget Committee met Thursday to address what they call a financial mismanagement crisis caused by Governor Katie Hobbs.

The committee says Hobbs caused the Department of Child Safety's Congregate Care Program to teeter on the edge of bankruptcy.

"Governor Hobbs's repeated failures to manage the budget responsibly have pushed agencies into crisis after crisis. Her administration's approach is to overspend, ignore reality, and then demand a last-minute bailout. That’s not leadership—that's recklessness," Chairman Livingston said.

The Committee wants the program to use existing funds within its budget to keep services running for vulnerable children in its care.

The Committee says Hobbs has the resources to fix this issue without demanding more taxpayer dollars.

But Hobbs is answering back, criticizing Republicans for their handling of funding for individuals with autism, down syndrome and cerebral palsy.

She says republicans need to present their budget and stop delaying action on crucial funding.