$11M sought to fix, replace old, inoperable fire alarms in state buildings, prisons

Regional News

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More than $11 million in the governor’s budget proposal would address fire alarm systems in the state’s buildings and prisons that are getting old, outdated and in various stages of failure.

Gov. Doug Ducey’s executive budget proposal includes $6.7 million for replacing fire alarms at Department of Administration buildings and $4.6 million at Department of Corrections locations.

The combined $11.3 million on fire alarms is one of larger spending items in Ducey’s budget proposal, but has captured little attention compared to other, less-expensive items.

Restoring cash assistance eligibility to two years for the poorest Arizonans costs $2.7 million. A loan forgiveness program for specific teachers in rural schools comes in at $250,000. A plan to expand broadband access in rural areas would cost
$5 million.

Ducey and lawmakers are still negotiating the budget as the 2018 legislative session wears on. The fire alarm spending, like all other discretionary spending in the state’s nearly $10 billion budget, may or may not make it into the final product.

The fire alarm systems have “exceeded their life expectancy, are functionally obsolete, or are in various stages of failure,” Ducey’s budget proposal says.