STATE CAPITOL, PHOENIX – House Appropriations Chairman David Livingston today issued a statement thanking Arizona Treasurer Kimberly Yee for her informative letter addressing Governor Katie Hobbs’ reckless budget mismanagement. Chairman Livingston highlighted Treasurer Yee’s steadfast commitment to transparency and accountability as the state grapples with a $350 million budget shortfall, driven by the Hobbs administration’s irresponsible and careless overspending.

“I appreciate Treasurer Yee’s clarity in addressing the financial mess Governor Hobbs has created. The issue isn’t ‘missing money’—it’s blatant mismanagement,” Chairman Livingston said. “Under the Governor’s feckless leadership, state agencies are making massive spending decisions with zero legislative oversight, ballooning costs, and expecting taxpayers to foot the bill. This kind of incompetence cannot stand.”

Chairman Livingston previously raised alarm over the state’s Developmental Disabilities Program, which is facing insolvency this spring due to decisions made unilaterally by Hobbs’ administration—without consulting the Legislature, or even the agencies directly managing the program. Despite a rapidly growing funding shortfall, the Governor’s latest budget proposal seeks an additional $328 million for these programs, doubling costs in just four years.

“This Governor is running Arizona’s budget into the ground,” Livingston continued. “She’s refusing to control spending, and instead of making responsible choices, she’s leaving families on the hook for her failures. The Republican Majority Legislature won’t stand by while she bankrupts the state.”

Chairman Livingston pledged continued scrutiny of state agency budgets and reaffirmed that the Joint Legislative Budget Committee will hold the Hobbs administration accountable for its financial mismanagement.

A copy of Treasurer Yee’s letter is attached.