Brewer Releases Proposed Arizona Budget

State Treasurer Dean Martin, left, Superintendent Tom Horne, second from left, and Attorney General Terry Goddard, right, watch as Governor Jan Brewer leaves the State House of Representatives after giving her State of the State address in Phoenix on Monday, Jan. 11, 2010. Brewer urged Arizona legislators to show courage in tackling the state's budget crisis by taking steps that include shrinking public services and raising revenue. (AP Photo/The Arizona Republic, Carlos Chavez)

PHOENIX (AP) — Gov. Jan Brewer on Friday released her proposed state budget, asking legislators to immediately approve a penny increase in the sales tax, cut numerous state programs and put numerous fiscal measures on special and general election ballots.

Proposed cuts include closing the Department of Juvenile Corrections and sending offenders to county facilities, eliminating state funding for all-day kindergarten and abolishing the KidsCare health care program.

Besides raising the sales tax by one cent for three years, Brewer wants to temporarily expand it to also include repair services, not just purchases of goods.

Brewer aides say her proposal would close a $1.4 billion shortfall in the current $8.4 billion budget and eliminate a $3.2 billion deficit in the next fiscal year.