Mariana Dale/KJZZ

Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey addresses media at a press conference on April 12, 2018, announcing his education funding plan.

Critics of Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey’s 20 percent teacher pay hike are questioning if there is money to fund it.

The governor’s aide, Dan Scarpinato, said there is real money to bolster paychecks based on Arizona’s healthy economy and more than $250 million in new revenue.

"The reason he did it is because he’s always said he’s on the side of our teachers," Scarpinato said. "He cares about our teachers. He actually feels very passionately about it. Just like everyone else, the governor is where he is today because of the teachers in his own life.”

Scarpinato said the governor’s significant hike in teacher pay is not a political ploy to avoid losing reelection.