By The Associated Press
Arizona has a new state budget.
Gov. Jan Brewer on Monday signed into law budget legislation approved by the Legislature following negotiations between her and Republican legislative leaders.
The budget's spending totals just under $8.6 billion for the fiscal year starting July 1. That's about $50 million more than in the current fiscal year.
Key elements include socking away $450 million into the state's rainy day fund. Legislators wanted that to prepare for future budget trouble.
New or restored spending in the budget includes $39 million for services for the seriously mentally ill and $50 million over two years to add 500 maximum-security prison beds.
There's also $80 million over four years to replace the state's aging accounting computer system and $40 million for elementary school reading instruction.
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