First Things First Approves $48m in Emergency Funding As Lawmakers in Arizona Scrutinize Spending

Summary

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A state board that receives funding from a tax on tobacco has approved emergency funding of $48 million for early childhood development programs and grants this week, moving faster than previously planned in response to the state's financial woes.

Arizona Early Childhood Development and Health Board, which oversees the First Things First program created under an initiative approved by voters in 2006, approved a plan on Feb. 24 to immediately distribute $24 million in discretionary money to various grants and programs and another $24 million to regional partnership councils, which are required by law to come up with an annual spending plan that includes services to be conducted directly by the councils or through grants.

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First Things First Approves $48m in Emergency Funding As Lawmakers in Arizona Scrutinize Spending

In a statement released after the emergency decision to spend the money, the board said the $48 million would be used "now rather than waiting until July 1 when they were planned to be expended."

Of the sum, $23.8 million was set aside for child care s...

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