I'm not sure the deal cut to return funding to Arizona schools is the best trade that could have been made. I don't say that easily because I know many of the people who were involved in the discussions. Much as I respect them, it seems to me that there was a lot of public dissatisfaction with state policy makers that could have been leveraged to greater advantage. Instead, education gets 70 cents of every dollar its owed (maybe). No matter what kind of hustler you are, 30 points is a very good vig, and that's what Governor Ducey and republican leaders in the legislature got.
There is every reason to distrust Ducey. If you're one of those Arizonans who do trust him, then I have a bridge to sell you in Gila Bend. Ducey (autocorrect wants to call him Ducky) already has plans to further invade the state's general fund. Arizona burned $140 million in corporate tax cuts last year, and another $60 million this year. In 2016 $112 million more in corporate tax cuts will kick in, and $108 million more in fiscal 2018. Can anyone make a case for giving away so much to people and entities that have more than enough? The Joint Legislative Budget Committee, among other groups, can't. They say the tax breaks aren't working. Revenue, of course, is never discussed. It never is in Arizona. In Ducey's Arizona, the rich will get richer; the state land trust will pour out more money than what's put in; the poor and middle class will pay disproportionately more in taxes; teachers won't get raises and will continue to leave the state; classrooms will be devoid of qualified teachers; and students will get the shaft. Lovely place, Arizona is.
The fact is, the money is there to fully fund Arizona's schools. A majority of people in the state are even willing to raise taxes to provide those funds. But two critical components are missing: the political will to do right by students and teachers, and a willingness to hold policy makers' feet to the fire.
The problem with public schools isn't a lack of money in the classroom but rather a lack of leadership in Arizona to make funding public schools a priority. Budgeting isn't just about money; it is about creating priorities to spend the money that is available.
Cutting school funding by 22 percent in six years coupled with failing to fund inflation to the tune of $1,300,000,000 (despite voter approve of Proposition 301) shows a complete failure to recognize that providing our kids a top-notch education is what Arizona needs to move ahead. Being 50th in school funding is outrageous and embarrassing. — Former Peoria Governing Board President Julia Smock
There's good reason to be suspicious of this settlement. First, the early language on this deal made it seem as though dollars would be flowing to Arizona schools this year. They won't. As a result, a lot of people — a lot of voters — think this is a done deal. It isn't.
Second, the settlement package is dependent on voter approval. In Arizona, Proposition 301 is the only statewide education funding measure to ever pass. Most others have lost, often by large majorities. Unless and until Ducey and republican legislative leaders, let alone educators, start to vigorously campaign for approval of this package in May, there's every reason to worry about the odds of the measure passing. Add to that the influence of unaccountable dark money on previous ballot measures (remember when the one-cent sales tax extension had 70 percent support before falling?) and it is clear that there is a lot of work to be done in order to earn voters' approval.
Finally, should voters strike down this settlement the game is over. Ducey and the legislature will wield a loss like a hammer on education, and education funding, and do so under the banner of carrying out the will of the voters. We cannot allow that to happen.
For those of you who are interested, and you all should be, the Arizona School Boards Association will hold a webinar on details of the settlement on Dec. 2 at 7 p.m. You should join in. There's a lot at stake.
