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Arizona faces estimated $1.1B budget shortfall due to virus

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GLENDALE, Ariz. (AP) — The Legislature's top budget analyst says Arizona faces an estimated $1.1 billion budget shortfall in the coming year because of the massive economic hit triggered by the coronavirus outbreak.

Richard Stavneak (Stav-nee-AHK) says there is so much uncertainly around state revenue that the hit could be $500 million more for the budget year that begins July 1 or $500 million less.

A lot depends on how quickly the state and nation recovers from business and personal income slowdowns caused by the response to the virus.

The loss equals nearly 9% of the state's total general fund spending in the current year of $11.8 billion.