As a public school superintendent I have been frustrated with the lack of progress in dealing with sustainable education funding for the State of Arizona. However, the passage of Proposition 100 does give me pause to see a clear statement made by the voters of our great state. On several fronts the 64% "Yes" vote speaks to the following:
1. Despite the Legislative lack of leadership and consistent "non starter" behavior to finding workable and structual revenue solutions, the people understand the need for a quality education program regardless of the platform: higher education, public school, charter, home school and on-line options.
2. Secondly, the people clearly understand, that even in the toughest of economic times, education must be seen as a priority from a bi-partisan point of view avoiding the idealogy that creates on going lose-lose options for students and their communities.
3. Finally, the people understand that part of the return for the great State of Arizona will come by further protecting home prices with great schools. I have yet to meet a family not move into Fountain Hills Unified SD that did not spend a great deal of time studying our school system for their children's future.
This sales tax increase has a 3 year limitation that clearly needs to be honored for all the voters regardless of their voting choice. This vote gives Arizona education hope and needed revenue for the near future. We need to honor it with the effort demonstrated by the people's vote in this most difficult of times.
Friday, May 21, 2010
Sunday, May 2, 2010
Legislature and School Funding at Dangerous Crossroads
The Arizona Legislature has had a difficult task balancing large budget revenue shortfalls with finding new revenue sources and choosing programs for reductions. 43% of the state budget goes to school funding (public schools, charter schools, higher education) that also includes $55 million presently used for private school vouchers. The private school tax credit vouchers were extended to April 15th by the Legislature keeping public school and charter school tax credits at the present December 31st cut-off date. The stated belief is that the more public school/charter school students that go into private schools, the more money the state can save in public school funding.
With the legislature ending this week FHUSD will lose about $928,000 before the results of the May 18th 1% Sales Tax Proposition. This is the third straight year of school funding cuts including mid-year cuts implemented when revenue projections fell short. If Proposition 100 fails at the ballot box FHUSD will need to cut $1.7 million.
One very important aspect of the budget not being publicized due to the over emphasis on the current cuts and September 18th is two November 2010 ballot measures to help solve the 2012 budget. The two measures are the state recovering voter protected funds from the "First Things First" Birth to Age 4 support funds ($380 million) and the State Land Conservation Fund ($120 million). These funds are presently part of the Legislative plan to solve the 2012 budget deficit that will most likely rival this year's shortfalls. Without these funds it is highly likely the state will again have to make mid-year cuts which creates major problems for schools.
By contract law school districts must provide a full-year contract for certified (teaching) staff that must be honored for the entire year. A $500 milliion shortfall does not allow school districts any options for cutting staff at mid-year to face likely further budget cuts. Most districts use 75-79% of their budgets based on personnel costs. It would be next to impossible for schools to make any substantial cuts in the event the legislature again sought to cut school funding due to revenue shortfalls.
In essence the Legislature's continued emphasis on gimmicks in place of restruturing a fundamentally flawed system overly based on consumption is leading them down a path toward a game of Russian Roulette. They have now let another session go by without any fundamental change in the tax system. They are now dependent upon the voters for Proposition 100 and the two November measures to save the 2012 budget. In the meantime, education and social services continue to carry the burden for a failure to lead and to act in time when real leadership is needed within a sustained bi-partisan effort.
With the legislature ending this week FHUSD will lose about $928,000 before the results of the May 18th 1% Sales Tax Proposition. This is the third straight year of school funding cuts including mid-year cuts implemented when revenue projections fell short. If Proposition 100 fails at the ballot box FHUSD will need to cut $1.7 million.
One very important aspect of the budget not being publicized due to the over emphasis on the current cuts and September 18th is two November 2010 ballot measures to help solve the 2012 budget. The two measures are the state recovering voter protected funds from the "First Things First" Birth to Age 4 support funds ($380 million) and the State Land Conservation Fund ($120 million). These funds are presently part of the Legislative plan to solve the 2012 budget deficit that will most likely rival this year's shortfalls. Without these funds it is highly likely the state will again have to make mid-year cuts which creates major problems for schools.
By contract law school districts must provide a full-year contract for certified (teaching) staff that must be honored for the entire year. A $500 milliion shortfall does not allow school districts any options for cutting staff at mid-year to face likely further budget cuts. Most districts use 75-79% of their budgets based on personnel costs. It would be next to impossible for schools to make any substantial cuts in the event the legislature again sought to cut school funding due to revenue shortfalls.
In essence the Legislature's continued emphasis on gimmicks in place of restruturing a fundamentally flawed system overly based on consumption is leading them down a path toward a game of Russian Roulette. They have now let another session go by without any fundamental change in the tax system. They are now dependent upon the voters for Proposition 100 and the two November measures to save the 2012 budget. In the meantime, education and social services continue to carry the burden for a failure to lead and to act in time when real leadership is needed within a sustained bi-partisan effort.
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