(Photo by Mariana Dale-KJZZ)

Construction in the East Valley.

In the post-Great Recession years, there’s been a renewed push to have Arizona diversify its economy and not rely so much on growth, housing and construction to drive it forward.

And what about taxes? Will the state’s leaders choose to cut them further, and is there room in the budget for additional spending on K-12 education, universities and other important items?

That was part of what attendees at the 109th Arizona Town Hall focused on earlier this month as part of the discussion about “Financing Arizona’s Future.”

We learned more from two town-hall participants: Kevin Olson, a partner with Steptoe and Johnson, and Kathy Knecht, president of the Arizona School Boards Association.