The state Court of Appeals yesterday granted a stay through next June on a ruling that would have taken away the source of 80% of the Arizona State Land Dept's funding. If the appeal had failed, State Land Commissioner Maria Baier warned of layoffs for 90% of agency staff by year end.
In a story in the Capitol Times, both sides in the lawsuit expressed pleasure with the court decision, saying it give the Legislature and the Court time to work out the problem, while allowing the department to continue to manage the state's trust lands.