 But first, Arizona lawmakers and the governor recently approved a new state budget which closed a combined deficit of roughly $1.4 billion for the fiscal year that ended on June 30th and the new one that starts today. This isn't the only state that's been dealing with shortfalls this year, nor is Arizona the only state in which the size of the state workforce has become an issue. Governor Hobbs this spring ordered what essentially amounts to a hiring freeze for state employees. California and Massachusetts have taken similar steps.