Infrastructure sags as the future looms
It's hard talking about the need for increased spending when the economy is fragile and all levels of government face budget crises. But the future looms, as a recent study fro ASU's W.P. Carey School of Business ("Preparing for An Arizona of 10 Million People") reminds us:

"State and local government policymakers, and indeed all Arizonans, will be deciding the future of Arizona in the next few years. Arizona has the opportunity to expand its significance as an economic center and to promote economic growth and prosperity. But it must be willing to invest in the state to reach these goals."

A recent editorial in Tucson's Arizona Daily Star sums up the situation well. You can read it at this link. Here are a couple of points from it to keep in mind as we face our state's future:

Arizona's infrastructure is deficient and will not improve without decisive leaders willing to make tough, often unpopular decisions. ...

Economic slow times are an opportune time for developing infrastructure: When the economy rallies, the foundation will be set.