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Caucus briefing outlines House budget numbers, highlights $200 million for building renewal and election costs
Summary
At a caucus meeting, presenter Bridal reviewed the latest House budget spreadsheet, citing a beginning FY26 balance of about $1.09 billion, roughly $17.762 billion in total revenues and several one-time items including $200 million for building renewal grants and $7.5 million for a special election.
Bridal, a presenter, briefed caucus members on the newest version of the Arizona House budget that passed through appropriations, saying the budget starts fiscal year 2026 with a beginning balance of about $1.09 billion and shows total revenues of about $17.762 billion and ongoing spending of roughly $16.552 billion.
The budget briefing mattered because it frames lawmakers’ negotiating baseline ahead of further committee and floor action, Bridal told members: “they agreed to the senate revenue numbers, not because they agreed with them, but because we needed more revenue.” He also walked members through a set of technical and one-time line items that adjust the baseline and fund specific needs.
Bridal cited several specific adjustments: a one-time $166.5 million increase in capital gains revenue tied to recent stock sales; a $150 million one-time shift from a prescription drug rebate fund in FY26 with $100 million ongoing; and a continuing one-time appropriation of $183.3 million for building renewal grants that, Bridal said, brings the program’s total in the baseline to about $200 million. He also identified an $11.2 million repayment for fire expenses, $7.5 million allocated for the Secretary of State’s CD-7 special election, and $140 million in FY26 for state employee health insurance.
Bridal described lines 7 through 11 of the spreadsheet as amounts carried from previously enacted budgets, and characterized many other entries as technical adjustments intended to align January baseline revenue estimates with the agreed figures. He told members the spreadsheet shows ongoing revenue and one-time revenue transfers, and invited questions while moving through the document.
No formal motions or votes were taken during the briefing. After Bridal concluded—saying he was available for questions—members declined to ask questions and the caucus adjourned.
The briefing did not include detailed departmental programmatic breakdowns beyond the line items noted, nor did it record any formal direction to staff; it served as a walkthrough of the appropriations-passed House spreadsheet and its major technical and one-time changes.
