Proposed Budget Cuts for Arizona Public Education

January 28, 2009

Who Proposed These Cuts?

Senator Russell Pearce (R-Mesa)

Representative John Kavanagh (R-Fountain Hills)

Chairmen of the Senate and House Appropriations Committees

Proposals

Almost $1 billion in cuts to the public education budget for FY2009 and FY2010 Phase out Career Ladder over 8 years

beginning 2010-2011 Eliminate all-day kindergarten Cut soft capital by $98M in FY2009 and

eliminate it entirely in FY2010 Reduce “lump sum” payments to

districts by $220 million (10% cut)

Current Funding

Arizona is ranked 49th out of 50 states in per-pupil funding.

Source: http://ftp2.census.gov/govs/school/06f33pub.pdf and http://www.edweek.org/rc/2007/06/07/edcounts.html

Historic Funding

Source: http://www.edweek.org/rc/2007/06/07/edcounts.html

Education Spending per Student

$0

$2,000

$4,000

$6,000

$8,000

$10,000

$12,000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

Year

U.S

. dollar

s

U.S. Average

Arizona

Source: http://w w w .edw eek.org/rc/2007/06/07/edcounts.html

GAP: $2,851

GAP: $1,195

Attitude of Arizona Leaders

Prior to developing options to address the shortfall, Chairmen asked only two questions:

1. How much and where has spending grown over the last 5 years?

2. What is the impact of voter protection on spending?

Source: http://www.azleg.gov/jlbc/AppropsBudgetOptions011509.pdf

Attitude of Arizona Leaders

“I am not willing to raise taxes on families or businesses, as they are already over taxed and over regulated. … The problem has been over spending not a lack of dollars.”

- Senator Pearce

Source: http://www.russellpearce.com

Attitude of Arizona Businesses

38% of Arizona small businesses identified having a “skilled workforce” as “critical” to their business success, second only to healthcare costs (at 42%). An additional 34% of respondents identified the need for a skilled workforce as “important.”

Source: http://www.oneilresearch.com/publicdomain/aeim/AEIM_Critical_Issues_Q3_2008.pdf

Attitude of Arizona Citizens

A 2008 O’Neil Associates survey showed that even in our current budget crisis, 66% of Arizonans want to spend more on K-12 education, more than any other budget area surveyed. Only 3% think we should spend less on K-12 education.

Source: http://www.azbiz.com/articles/2009/01/12/opinion/columnists/guest_opinion/doc4967a2d29f854441030722.txt

Attitude of the Citizens

According to a December 2008 survey by Tucson Regional Economic Opportunities, almost 600 Tucson business leaders ranked funding for K-12 and higher education as their top priority, even further ahead than tax cuts. About 77% of respondents agree that “Arizona needs to make significant new investments in educational achievement to meet real needs and avoid a crisis.”

Sources: http://explorernews.com/articles/2009/01/07/business/doc4963e915289a3313625510.txt andhttp://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/frontpage/106176

Attitude of the Citizens

“When legislators talk about how they’ll prioritize … they’re still talking about cuts in economic development tools, cuts in funding for education … everything we’re saying is the most important seems to be targeted for the biggest cuts.”

- Laura Shaw, TREO senior vice president for corporate and community affairs

Sources: http://explorernews.com/articles/2009/01/07/business/doc4963e915289a3313625510.txt andhttp://www.tucsoncitizen.com/altss/printstory/frontpage/106176

At the Rally

Between 1,500 and 2,000 people showed up at the state capitol on Sunday, January 25 to voice their concern about the proposed budget cuts.

Source: http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/2009/01/25/20090125edprotest0126.html

Speakers Included

Representative Rich Crandall R-Mesa Education

Committee Chair Senator Rebecca

Rios D-Apache Junction Assistant Senate

Minority Leader

Message

These are only proposals made by two legislators with no input from other members.

Many legislators have children in public schools and do support education.

There is doubt that the proposed cuts will pass in their entirety.

Message

Private conversations with Governor Brewer indicate support for education.

The federal stimulus package may provide significant assistance for our education budget.

The turnout at the rally was among the best they’d ever seen.

But …

There is an urgency among legislative leaders to pass a budget ASAP … possibly by February 1.

Legislators need to hear from their constituents now to ensure these cuts get scaled back or defeated.

What Can I Do?

E-mail your legislators

Call your legislators

Spread the word

How Can I Do It?

Visit www.chandlerea.org Visit www.speakupnowaz.org

Learn talking points Find contact information for your

legislators