Montenegro Reveals Hobbs Was Alerted on Budget Warnings Since January

By Matthew Holloway |

In a recent interview, Speaker of the Arizona House of Representatives Steve Montenegro shed light on the increasing tensions between Republican legislative leaders and Governor Hobbs. Montenegro claimed that warnings regarding potential shortcomings in budget management were communicated as early as January. However, he noted that the Hobbs administration only sent a critical notice to House leaders a mere two weeks before a looming funding crisis, and that it was mistakenly delivered to an incorrect email address.

Montenegro criticized the governor’s administration for what he termed “incompetence.” He explained that the formation of the House Ad Hoc Committee on Executive Budget Mismanagement stems from ongoing concerns about budget oversight, with the committee convening for the first time last week.

“We’re witnessing a complete breakdown in basic budget planning,” Montenegro stated, underscoring that the governor has consistently overspent while under-planning, only acknowledging issues at the last moment. The committee aims to address the recurring failures in budget proposals that Montenegro claims have been persistent since the beginning of Hobbs’ administration.

“There are times when budget estimations fluctuate,” he acknowledged. “However, the degree of mismanagement we’re seeing is alarming. Essential budgeting items were ignored entirely from the start.” He detailed how issues were highlighted back in January, with critical components missing from her proposals.

Montenegro went on to discuss a troubling email received shortly before the deadline, which described dire consequences for vulnerable children if budgetary concerns were not resolved. “This situation reflects sheer incompetence,” he asserted. “When children’s welfare is at stake, Arizonans deserve better.”

When confronted with the possibility that the committee’s actions might be seen as politically motivated, Montenegro dismissed such claims. “There are no games here,” he stated emphatically. “The focus is on ensuring that vulnerable children are not neglected due to budget mishaps.”

Montenegro also addressed the governor’s controversial decisions, including increases in fees for caregiving services. He pointed out that amid an ongoing investigation, it is crucial to uncover the root causes of budget mismanagement to prevent further harm.

Responding to inquiries about accountability measures facing the governor, Montenegro emphasized the house’s determination to hold her accountable for the issues at hand. “Our Appropriations Committee has been actively seeking clarity. Unfortunately, the governor has not made her team accessible to our staff for discussions regarding the budget figures,” he noted.

To intensify their efforts, Montenegro stated that the Ad Hoc Committee would indeed pursue deeper investigations into budget management practices and ensure proper funding allocation. He reflected on prior legislative sessions, indicating that the current committee’s work aims to improve dialogue and transparency between legislative bodies and the governor’s office.

As the budget crisis unfolds, the implications of this dialogue will be significant for Arizona’s vulnerable populations, particularly children who rely on state support programs.

Matthew Holloway is a senior reporter for AZ Free News. Follow him on X for his latest stories, or email tips to Matthew@azfreenews.com.