Arizona needs
“You can only postpone these things for so long before the risk becomes intolerable.”
The Arizona Republic reviewed state-agency directors’ annual petitions for funding, which they submit to the Governor’s Office. Here is a sampling:
FIRE-SUPPRESSION SYSTEMS
About 270 boys are housed in the Department of Juvenile Corrections’ 42-year-old Adobe Mountain School, which lacks adequate fire suppression. The department requested $2.5 million for a new system. “The lack of fire-suppression systems in the other housing units creates a health and life safety issue for occupants,” the department’s budget request states. Bottom line: The governor’s budget did not request additional general-fund money for this department, but did request $30 million to go to the Department of Administration for urgent state facility repairs, listing the fire-suppression system among several priorities.
STUDENT HOUSING
Dorms at the Arizona State School for the Deaf and the Blind in Tucson do not meet Americans with Disabilities Act standards. Most have not been updated since they were built a half-century ago. They lack fire sprinklers, the carpet creates tripping hazards, and bathrooms aren’t accessible. “These dorms are the residents’ ‘home away from home’ and need to be retrofitted to meet the current codes,” school officials said. Bottom line: There is no money for this in the governor’s budget proposal.
DATA WAREHOUSE
The computer systems that track many state social services, including child-support enforcement and reports of child neglect and abuse, are housed in a 1950s-era office building converted into a data center. The building’s infrastructure has been falling apart. Leaking pipes exposed sensitive wiring to water. Mice run under the floor, forcing staff to set mousetraps to protect sensitive wires from being chewed through. The roof leaks, draining through the ceiling tiles and putting million-dollar servers at risk. And tanks of halon gas, which provide fire suppression, have been drained due to several false alarms. They are too expensive to replenish. “There’s problems above, there’s problems below, and there’s rodents in between,” said James Hillyard, Department of Economic Security deputy director of operations. Bottom line: The governor’s budget requests $8.8 million to relocate the data center.
“They have a fiduciary responsibility to maintain these things. They ought to be able to look far enough ahead.”
TRAINING FACILITY’S DOORS
At the Arizona Training Program at Coolidge for people with developmental disabilities, the doors are “severely cracked” and don’t close properly, causing security problems and allowing rodents, insects, bees and snakes inside. “During ... FY 2004, FY 2005 and FY 2007, the facility was cited due to poor door conditions that resulted in easy access by rodents,” a budget request states. Bottom line: The governor’s budget request does not contain money for door repairs. The budget request does allocate money for capital improvements that could pay for replacing the doors.
WILDLAND-FIREFIGHTING EQUIPMENT
Persistent radio problems impeded communications and were cited as a factor in the chaotic response to the Yarnell Hill Fire, where 19 firefighters died. Officials requested nearly $200,000 to buy 20 radios to replace units that officials say are no longer serviceable. The radios were part of a $756,400 equipment request from the Arizona State Forester’s Office, who cited the increasing number and size of wildland fires in asking for an 85 percent budget increase. Bottom line: The Governor’s Office opted instead to provide $57,000 to replace the chassis and emergency lighting on a fire engine in the Tucson district.
RURAL ROADS
Nearly 800 miles of roads in four rural counties have been downgraded to “primitive” due to a lack of maintenance funds. Since 2001, the state has diverted money from the Highway User Revenue Fund to other needs, primarily the Department of Public Safety. “Primitive” roads are posted with signs advising drivers to proceed at their own risk. Bottom line: House Speaker Andy Tobin has introduced House Bill 2692 to stop the fund diversion. Fifty-four lawmakers have signed on in support.
DOOR LOCKS
Security locks on children’s bedrooms in Department of Juvenile Corrections facilities are wearing out. The locks keep children from escaping and protect children and staff from potential assaults. The department requested $312,000 to replace 1,250 door locks. “Serious injuries and other types of security incidents have occurred,” the department budget request states. Bottom line: The governor’s budget did not include funding.
CHILD-SAFETY SYSTEM
It’s arduous for investigators to log information on child-abuse and neglect cases because the state childwelfare agency’s computer program is over two decades old. Caseworkers must return to the office to enter the data, reducing the time they have for other cases. Bottom line: The Governor’s Office requested $10 million to start updating the system, which is estimated to be a three- to four-year project costing up to $50 million.