Howard Fischer/Capitol Media Services

Gov. Doug Ducey (right) talks with Rep. David Cook after touring fire damaged areas in the legislator's district on June 10, 2021.

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey announced a special session for the state Legislature focused on wildfire mitigation and prevention.

Ducey says wildfires are the new top priority, so the ongoing state budget discussions are moved to the back burner. 

He says Arizona is in a good enough position financially to focus on other matters.

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“We have stretched our social safety net since the day I came into this office, we balanced our budget, we closed a one billion dollar deficit, we’re in a healthy cash carry-forward position,” said Ducey.

The special session is set to begin next week.

Legislators face a June 30 budget deadline for the budget year that begins July 1.

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A firefighter monitors a burnout operation in the Oak Flat area on the Telegraph Fire on June 6, 2021.