An Arizona state budget brokered by Gov. Katie Hobbs (D-AZ) and legislative Republicans scraped through the state Senate, despite opposition from Democrats.

The $17.8 billion budget, the largest in the state's history, became a point of contention between the Democratic governor and her party, the Arizona Mirror reported. The main issue legislative Democrats took with the proposal was its designation of funds for the state's school voucher program, something Hobbs had promised to rein in in January.

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The school voucher program, called Empowerment Scholarship Accounts, is intended to help public school students move to private schools if they feel their academic needs aren't being met. The program has ballooned in cost since its introduction. The average voucher is $10,000, and the program as a whole is projected to cost $500 million next year. Democrats wanted to introduce a cap on the program and focus more funds on public schools.

Democrats also claim the budget fails to fund programs dedicated to other issues.

"We must cap universal ESA vouchers in the upcoming budget. They now threaten to bankrupt AZ. We need to fight the fentanyl crisis; protect our children; combat elder abuse; fund our secure & safe elections, and deal with the homelessness, housing, teacher & water crises," state Rep. Judy Schwiebert (D) tweeted.

Public school activists also expressed opposition to the budget, framing the vouchers as financially ruinous and neglecting public schools.

“Gov. Hobbs must honor her promise to public schools by negotiating a growth cap this year on the universal ESA voucher program as a basic measure of fiscal stewardship,” Save Our Schools Director Beth Lewis said in a press release, obtained by the Arizona Mirror. “Arizona’s 1.1 million public school students are counting on Gov. Hobbs to honor her commitment to roll back the universal voucher program and prioritize our public schools.”

Despite the criticism of the voucher program, the budget also includes a $300 million increase for K-12 public schools. It also includes significant increases in programs fighting social ills; $20 million for programs for the homeless and $12 million to fight opioid addiction.

Hobbs praised the budget as an example of fruitful bipartisanship.

“Today we showed Arizonans we can reach across the aisle, compromise, and make government work,” she said in a written statement, obtained by the outlet.

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Republicans also declared a victory, citing tax rebates, and investments in education and the state Department of Housing.

The Washington Examiner reached out to Hobbs for comment.